1808 in birding and ornithology


 * Louis Pierre Vieillot commences Histoire naturelle des oiseaux de l'Amérique septentrionale. Desray, Paris (1807-1808).
 * Alexander Wilson commences the nine-volume American Ornithology (1808–1814), illustrating 268 species of birds, 26 of which had not previously been described.
 * John William Lewin's Birds of New Holland with their Natural History published in London. He writes the first description of the Regent bowerbird in this work.
 * Coenraad Jacob Temminck publishes Histoire naturelle générale des pigeons et des gallinacés. Sepps, Amsterdam 1808–15.