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Aims and Scope
The Journal of Asian Ornithology (formerly Forktail) is the flagship scholarly publication of the Oriental Bird Club (OBC). It publishes original papers in the English language concerning all aspects of ornithology (e.g. behavioural biology, life history, distribution, taxonomy, nomenclature, ecology and conservation) in the Oriental and Eastern Palaearctic regions. Geographical coverage extends to Lydekker’s Line in the east (including the Moluccas, Kai and Tanimbar) and to Afghanistan in the west. In the Indian Ocean, the western and southern limits are the Maldives and Christmas Island. In the Pacific Ocean, the Commanders, Japan and all its associated island possessions and the Philippines are included. In Russia, the western boundary of the region is along the Ural Mountains. Coverage does not extend to the Central Asian republics of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.
The Journal of Asian Ornithology invites the submission of research articles containing original data and novel insights. Reviews and short communications may also be considered, but authors should consult with editors about their suitability prior to submission. Examples of eligible submissions include the distribution and ecology of birds; taxonomic discoveries, descriptions and revisions; and novel aspects of avian behaviour (e.g. nesting biology, foraging, migration, mixed flocking and nest parasitism). We also welcome papers with a strong conservation focus, for example new insights into the conservation status of threatened species, the illegal bird trade, habitat restoration and management, extinctions and habitat fragmentation effects. Comprehensive avifaunal inventories of particular regions or islands are welcome contributions. On the other hand, single species records new to a country or region are considered only in exceptional circumstances.
The Journal of Asian Ornithology places emphasis on (1) the novelty of research results and (2) region-wide significance. Contributions in which the novelty of results is not immediately clear, or in which authors have not established how their results further our insights into a topic in comparison with previous results, are not usually considered for review. Equally, novel ornithological results that are only locally or nationally, but not regionally, significant, are not generally considered for review. We encourage authors to familiarise themselves with the scope of our sister journal BirdingASIA, which will under some circumstances be a more appropriate choice for interesting and appealing studies that are locally or nationally significant.
Journal information
Publication model and frequency
Manuscripts accepted for publication in JAO are released on the journal’s webpage (https://www.orientalbirdclub.org/jao-index) for free as soon as they have passed the production process, and are instantly available for dissemination. A printed edition of JAO is released for free annually to OBC members, and is available for purchase to members of the public via https://www.orientalbirdclub.org/obc-sales.
Digital archive: https://www.orientalbirdclub.org/jao-index
Publication fee
JAO does not charge any fees for publications.