ORNITHOLOGY

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY 101 and 102 , ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY/BOTANY 152 , ( BIOCORE 381 and 382 ), or graduate/professional standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Natural Science & Wellness Breadth - Biological Science Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Spring 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Articulate how birds differ from other vertebrate taxa and trace birds' basic evolutionary history. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Characterize the adaptations (morphological, physiological, behavioral) that are associated with birds’ great evolutionary success. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Analyze the mechanics of flight, and relate different modes of flight to species’ life history strategies. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Compare and contrast the annual cycle of bird groups that have distinct life history strategies. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Explain different modes of learning in birds, and what conditions favor the different modes. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Synthesize modes of communication in birds. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 7. Distinguish between factors shaped by natural versus sexual selection, and discuss the role of sexual selection, habitat selection, and foraging mode in shaping avian behavior and ornamentation. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 8. Identify and discuss contemporary issues in bird conservation, and predict how various avian attributes are associated with risk of extinction. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 9. Assess and integrate primary scientific literature to evaluate evolutionary and ecological theories in ornithology and apply these insights to address a contemporary issue in avian biology or conservation. Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Articulate how birds differ from other vertebrate taxa and trace birds' basic evolutionary history. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Characterize the adaptations (morphological, physiological, behavioral) that are associated with birds’ great evolutionary success. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Analyze the mechanics of flight, and relate different modes of flight to species’ life history strategies. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Compare and contrast the annual cycle of bird groups that have distinct life history strategies. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Explain different modes of learning in birds, and what conditions favor the different modes. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Synthesize modes of communication in birds. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 7. Distinguish between factors shaped by natural versus sexual selection, and discuss the role of sexual selection, habitat selection, and foraging mode in shaping avian behavior and ornamentation. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 8. Identify and discuss contemporary issues in bird conservation, and predict how various avian attributes are associated with risk of extinction. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 9. Assess and integrate primary scientific literature to evaluate evolutionary and ecological theories in ornithology and apply these insights to address a contemporary issue in avian biology or conservation. Audience: Graduate