Ornithophily

The next time someone asks you about your interests or hobbies, don’t just say that you’re a bird watcher or birder (how boring); really impress them by describing yourself as an ornithophile or (depending on the severity of your condition) ornithomaniac, and that you practice ornithophilism. That’s sure to raise an eyebrow or two!

Here are some more ornitho-words (in alphabetical order) to add to your vocabulary for that special occasion:

Ornithological – of or pertaining to the scientific study of birds

Ornithologist – a person who engages in the scientific study of birds

Ornithology – the scientific study of birds

Ornithomania – an obsessive-compulsive disorder involving the pursuit and listing of birds to the point where social relations or health are damaged (cf. here)

Ornithomaniac – a person who is afflicted with ornithomania

Ornithomanic - the adjective form of ornithomania

Ornithophagy – the eating of birds

Ornithophagous – a bird-eating diet

Ornithophile – a person who admires or loves birds

Ornithophilia – an alternate (modern) word for ornithophily, the love of birds

Ornithophiliac – a person who engages in ornithophilia

Ornithophilic – the adjective form of ornithophile

Ornithophilism – the practice of loving birds

Ornithophily – the legitimate love of birds (cf. here)

Ornithophobia - the fear of birds

Ornithophobiac - a person with a fear of birds

Ornithophobic - the adjective form of ornithophobia

This indulgence was prompted by this post at the Musing on Nature & Other Interests blog.