William John Swainson FLS, FRS, was an English ornithologist, malacologist, conchologist, entomologist, and artist.
William John Swainson
In this Zoological Illustrations lithograph Swainson depicted Urania sloanus, a now extinct species
Image of a colour lithograph of a Moluccan king parrot produced by Swainson in the first volume of Zoological Illustrations
Swainson's warbler
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds. It has also been an area with a large contribution made by amateurs in terms of time, resources, and financial support. Studies on birds have helped develop key concepts in biology including evolution, behaviour and ecology such as the definition of species, the process of speciation, instinct, learning, ecological niches, guilds, island biogeography, phylogeography, and conservation.
A marbled godwit being ringed for studies on bird migration
A collection of bird skins, belonging to the family Cotingidae
Geese from a wall panel from the tomb of Nefermaat, Egypt c. 2575–2551 B.C.
Belon's comparison of birds and humans in his Book of Birds, 1555
