- For authors
- International Journal of Ornithology
Instructions for Authors
How to prepare and submit a manuscript to the International Journal of Ornithology.
Scope, policies and one route
JIO publishes research on all aspects of avian biology, with ecology, behavior, evolution and conservation as core areas. Check the Aims and Scope and read the Editorial Policies before you submit.
Authors must use only one submission route for the same manuscript.
Choose the article type
JIO publishes one set of article types. Editors may reclassify a submission to the type that best fits its content.
Original Research
Reports new empirical, experimental, observational or analytical findings on birds, with the methods and data needed to evaluate them.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
A reproducible, structured search and synthesis of the literature on a defined question, with quantitative pooling where appropriate.
Review
A critical, balanced synthesis of a field or question in avian science that identifies open problems.
Methods
A new or substantially improved method, tool, protocol or analytical approach for studying birds, with evidence that it works.
Short Communication
A concise report of a focused finding or a preliminary result that is complete enough to evaluate.
Data Note
A description of a dataset (for example survey, tracking, acoustic or genetic data) that explains how it was collected and how it can be reused.
Field Note
A brief, documented observation of bird biology, supported by dates, locations, methods and evidence such as photographs, recordings or specimens, and placed in context.
Commentary
A reasoned argument or perspective on a question, finding or practice in ornithology, grounded in the literature.
Structure and length
- Title page. Title, author names, affiliations, a corresponding author with email, and ORCID iDs where available.
- Abstract and keywords. An abstract and several keywords. For Original Research, Short Communication, Data Note and Field Note, use a structured abstract that states the question, methods, results and conclusions. For Review, Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, Methods and Commentary, use an unstructured summary of the aims and main points; a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis may follow a PRISMA-style structure.
- Main text. Organize the text in the way that suits the article type. Original Research normally follows Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion.
- References. Cite sources consistently and include a DOI or stable link where one exists.
- Figures and tables. Provide legible figures with captions and units, and describe species by common and scientific names.
There are no fixed length limits for any article type; manuscripts should be concise and proportionate to their content.
Double-blind submissions
Single-blind by default; double-blind review is available on request. For double-blind review, remove author names, affiliations, acknowledgments, funding details, institution names, and other identifying information from the reviewer manuscript. Provide identifying information separately in the title-page file or submission form.
Approvals, permits and data availability
Research on live birds follows institutional animal-welfare approval and the relevant national and international permits (capture, banding or ringing, sampling, collection, and CITES where applicable); state the permit and approval numbers in the manuscript. Studies with human participants, such as surveys or citizen science, require ethics approval or exemption and informed consent. Avoid disclosing precise locations of vulnerable nests or roosts. Every empirical research manuscript must include a data-availability statement. Disclose any use of generative AI tools in preparing the manuscript. See the Editorial Policies and Data Archiving and Permissions.
Submit your manuscript
ManuscriptZone. Primary route, with tracking and communication. Submit through ManuscriptZone.
Simple manuscript submission form. Alternative route for a quick upload. Open the simple form.
Editorial email. Assisted route through the editorial office: [email protected].
Authors must use only one submission route for the same manuscript.
Article processing charge
The article processing charge is USD 1,200, payable only after acceptance; withdrawal after submission is subject to the journal's withdrawal policy. Fee-relief inquiries are considered case by case; contact the editorial office before or at submission.
What happens next
All submissions undergo initial editorial screening. Manuscripts that meet the journal's scope and minimum requirements proceed to independent peer review. Single-blind by default; double-blind review is available on request.
Questions: [email protected]