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The year 2004 in birding and ornithology.

Worldwide

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 the Zoologische Verhandelingen (Leiden) 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

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