2004 in birding and ornithology

The year 2004 in birding and ornithology.

New species

 * See also Bird species new to science described in the 2000s


 * 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 Zoologische Verhandelingen PDF.

 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

Deaths

 * 7 August - Colin Bibby (born 1948)

Breeding birds

 * Osprey bred for the first time in Wales.

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.
 * Britains's first Scopoli's shearwater off Isles of Scilly waters on 2 August.
 * 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 northern Peru's dry forests as its theme for the year.
 * The West Midland Bird Club celebrates its 75th anniversary.

Scandinavia
To be completed

North America
To be completed