The ornithology collection in the Yale Peabody Museum’s Division of Vertebrate Zoology is among the largest and most comprehensive repositories of scientific bird specimens in the Western Hemisphere. Holdings include more than 152,000 specimens, representing nearly 7,200 species—about 70% of total global bird diversity—collected over the last 150 years. Most of the specimens, about 108,000, are prepared as skins. The rest of the collection consists of skeletons, fluid-preserved specimens, cryo-preserved tissue samples, eggs, and nests. Geographic coverage is worldwide, with emphasis on Connecticut in the northeastern United States and with significant holdings from the Philippines, New Guinea, Borneo, Tanzania, Argentina, Brazil, and the Guianas.
Burrowing Owl; Photo by K. Zyskowski
Cuban Trogon; Photo by K. Zyskowski
Short-legged Ground-Roller; Photo by K. Zyskowski
Scarlet Ibis; Photo by K. Zyskowski
The Division’s egg collection of over 13,000 sets representing over 1,000 species is among the largest such collection in North America. Images and associated data linked to specimen records are searchable online. Most specimens are from the collections of Louis B. Bishop (1865–1950) of New Haven, Connecticut, and Henry O. Havemeyer (1847–1907) of Mahwah, New Jersey. More than 90% of bird species found in North America (north of Mexico) are represented, including the extinct Passenger Pigeon and Bachman’s Warbler.
The Division’s affiliated William Robertson Coe Ornithology Library has an extensive nonlending research and teaching collection of books and journals.
ORN specimen Piranga ludoviciana; Photo by Bob Lorenz
ORN specimens Psittirostra psittacea and Turdus pilaris; Photo by Bob Lorenz
ORN egg specimen; Photo by Bob Lorenz
ORN specimen—wing; Photo by Bob Lorenz
The Birds of Connecticut
More than 400 different bird species have been seen in Connecticut, but not all are permanent residents.
William Robertson Coe Ornithology Library
The William Robertson Coe Ornithology Library is one of the most important libraries in the United States devoted to works about birds.
Audobon Skimmer plate—photo credit: Bob Lorenz
Research in the Ornithology Collections
The Division of Vertebrate Zoology at the Yale Peabody Museum sponsors research on the morphology, evolution, development, biogeography, ecology, and behavior of vertebrates. Division staff and affiliates conduct field research on multiple continents. Additionally, molecular studies by staff have addressed population genetics, conservation, and the molecular systematics of vertebrates.
The Peabody’s curatorial divisions are governed by the Museum’s collections policies and best practices document. Collections are available to researchers for scholarly use and loans are issued to individuals at established institutions. Loans and access can be arranged through the curatorial division’s collections manager.
For general information on objects in this collection, including identifications, contact the Yale Peabody Museum Department of Education at peabody.education@yale.edu.
Department Contact
-
Vertebrate Zoology (Mammalogy, Ornithology)
Kristof Zyskowski
Collections Manager203-432-9821
Curators & Divisional Staff
-
-
-
Vertebrate Zoology (Mammalogy, Ornithology)
Kristof Zyskowski
Collections Manager203-432-9821