2004 in birding and ornithology
- See also 2003 in birding and ornithology, main events of 2004, other specialist lists of events in 2004 and 2005 in birding and ornithology.
Worldwide
New species
- The Togian Hawk-owl from Indonesia is described as new to science in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club.
- The Rubeho Akalat from Tanzania is described as new to science in the American journal The Auk.
- The Acre Antshrike from Brazil is described as new to science in the American journal The Auk.
- The Calayan Rail from the Philippines is discovered and described as new to science in the journal Forktail
- The Serendib Scops-owl from the Sri Lankan rainforests is described as new to science in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club
- Mees's Nightjar from Flores and Sumba, Indonesia is described as new to science in the Zoologische Verhandelingen (Leiden).
To be completed
Rediscoveries
- The Rusty-throated Wren-babbler was rediscovered on 18 November in the Mishmi Hills of eastern Arunachal Pradesh; the species had only previously been known from the type specimen, collected c.50 km away in 1947
- The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is reported as having been discovered in Arkansas in April, although the reports attract considerable controversy.
To be completed
Taxonomic developments
To be completed
Ornithologists
Deaths
- 7 August - Colin Bibby (b. 1948)
Europe
Britain
Breeding birds
To be completed
Migrant and wintering birds
To be completed
Rare birds
- A small influx of Long-tailed Tits of the white-headed northern race caudatus in the early part of the year gave many British birders their first opportunity to observe this form in Britain.
- Britain's first Chestnut-eared Bunting and Rufous-tailed Robin were both found on Fair Isle in October.
- Britain's first Purple Martin was found on the Butt of Lewis, Outer Hebrides in September.
- Britain's first Masked Shrike, a juvenile, was found in October at Kilrenny Common in Fife, and seen by large numbers of birders.
- The third Great Knot for Britain was seen on the Wyre Estuary, Lancashire in August.
- A Cream-coloured Courser on the Isles of Scilly during September and October is the first in Britain for 20 years.
Other Events
- The British Birdwatching Fair has Peru as its theme for the year.
- The West Midland Bird Club celebrates its 75th anniversary.
Scandinavia
To be completed
North America
To be completed
Categories
2004 | Years in birding and ornithology