1856 in birding and ornithology

Ongoing events
 * John Cassin publishes Illustrations of the Birds of California, Texas, Oregon, British, and Russian America.
 * Léon Olphe-Galliard takes part in the second congress of Deutsche Ornithologen-Gesellschaft at Gothen in Germany, where he meets Prince Lucien Bonaparte, and other scientists.
 * Johan August Wahlberg killed by a wounded elephant while exploring the headwaters of the Limpopo River.
 * Birds described in 1856 include kea, Brewer's sparrow, western bronze-naped pigeon, yellow-spotted barbet, barred parakeet,
 * In October the red-necked nightjar occurred in Britain.
 * Marc Athanase Parfait Oeillet Des Murs publishes the ornithological section of Voyage autour du monde sur la frégate la Vénus in collaboration with Florent Prévost.
 * Henry Haversham Godwin-Austen joins the Great Trigonometric Survey of India.
 * Robert Swinhoe makes an "adventurous" visit to the camphor districts of Formosa
 * John Gould The birds of Australia; Supplement 1851–69. 1 vol. 81 plates; Artists: J. Gould and H. C. Richter; Lithographer: H. C. Richter
 * John Gould The birds of Asia; 1850-83 7 vols. 530 plates, Artists: J. Gould, H. C. Richter, W. Hart and J. Wolf; Lithographers:H. C. Richter and W. Hart