Publications

The support and dissemination of knowledge about birds is one of the key missions of the American Ornithologists' Union.

Publications of the AOU include:

The Auk

The Auk is a quarterly journal of ornithology that publishes papers that deal with ornithological research, maximum of 40 typescript pages. Other features include Perspectives, Commentaries, Letters to The Auk, and Book Reviews.

Research manuscripts should be submitted through ScholarOne, the online manuscript submission and peer-review system of The Auk. Please follow Instructions to Authors. Letters and proposals for Perspectives should be sent to the Editor of The Auk (Michael Murphy; ).

Ornithological Monographs

Ornithological Monographs is published approximately 3 times annually. Manuscripts for Ornithological Monographs are 50-300 typescript pages, and may deal with a single topic or multi-faceted study (such as dissertation), or symposia papers from recent ornithological meetings.

Each issue of Ornithological Monographs has its own structure, but we attempt to follow the Instructions to Authors used for The Auk as far as possible. Authors of potential Ornithological Monographs should contact the Editor of Ornithological Monographs (Michael Morrison; ) before submission and electronic submissions are made directly to the this editor.

Series in Ornithology

The AOU and the Nuttall Ornithological Club have agreed to cooperatively produce longer ornithological publications in a Series in Ornithology. Manuscripts for this series exceed 300 typescript pages.

The structure for each special publication may vary, but the Instructions to Authors used for The Auk should be followed as much as possible. The Editor of Ornithological Monographs (Michael Morrison; ) serves as the AOU's contact point for Series in Ornithology and should be consulted before submitting any manuscript. Once initially approved by the Editor of Ornithological Monographs, manuscripts will be handled jointly by editors representing both the AOU and NOC.

Special Publications

The AOU occasionally publishes special documents, including an Anatomical Inventory series, 10-year indices to The Auk, and checklists.

The A.O.U. Check-list of North American Birds is the official source of taxonomy of birds in North and Middle America. It was produced by the AOU's Committee on Classification and Nomenclature (North and Central America), and is regularly updated. The latest (7th) edition is available on-line, along with updates and the current taxonomic list of North American birds. You can also purchase the book version here.

Birds of North America is the most comprehensive, authoritative and up-to-date resource available on the biology of North American birds. The print version was the culmination of a joint 10-year project by the American Ornithologists' Union, the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences.

Rights and permission

Persons seeking rights and permission to reprint papers, figures, tables, etc. published previously in The Auk or Ornithological Monographs should contact the AOU Executive Director ().

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For more information on advertising in Ornithological Monographs and The Auk, see our advertising information.