NPTEL Ornithology Course

Topics covered

Week 1
Introduction to Ornithology; Avian Diversity and Classification; Evolution and Speciation 

Week 2
Anatomy; Physiology; Feathers and Plumage 

Week 3
Life History; Foraging Behaviour; Mating and Breeding Behaviour 

Week 4
Social Behaviour; Methods of Science and Posing Research Questions 

Week 5
Vocal Behaviour: Mechanisms; Ecology & Evolution; Vocal Behaviour: Case Study 

Week 6
Migration; Basics of Research Design 

Week 7
Bird Populations: Concepts; Bird Communities: Concepts 

Week 8
Mixed species flocks; Studying Bird Populations and Communities: Techniques 

Week 9
Avian Disease; Introduction to data visualisation and analysis 

Week 10
Biogeography; Macroecology; Macroecology: Case Study 

Week 11
Avian Conservation: Concepts; Avian Conservation: Case Studies 1; Avian Conservation: Case Studies 2 

Week 12
Citizen Science in Ornithology; Molecular Techniques in Ornithology; Molecular Techniques: Case Study

Faculty And Assistants

Core Faculty:

Manjari Jain
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata

Mousumi Ghosh
Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF)

Rajah Jayapal
Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)

Sahas Barve
Archbold Biological Station, USA

Suhel Quader
Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF)

Umesh Srinivasan
Indian Institute of Science (IISc)

VV Robin
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Tirupati

Teaching Assistants:
Amrutha Rajan, Ram Ramamurthy

Course coordinator:
Devica Ranade
Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF)

Guest faculty

Some topics within the course are accompanied by case studies. These lectures are conducted by guest faculty, bringing in diverse expertise from the field of ornithology. For upcoming courses, guest faculty will be finalised closer to the time. Past guest lectures have been delivered by:

Anusha Shankar
Topic covered: Anatomy and Morphology, Physiology & Coloration – A case study

Ashwin Vishwanathan
Topic covered: Citizen Science in Ornithology

Farah Ishtiaq
Topic covered: Avian Diseases

Madhumita Panigrahi
Topic covered: Bird Migration

Mansi Mungee
Topic covered: Macro Ecology Case Study

Priti Bangal
Topic covered: Mixed Species Flocks of Birds

Samira Agnihotri
Topic covered: Vocal Mimicry in Birds

Suresh Kumar
Topic covered: Bird Migration

Past Teaching Assistants

2025
Amrutha Rajan

2024
Sonam Chorol

2023
Chiti Arvind, Jobin Varughese 

2022
Ankita Sinha, Jobin Varughese

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs):

How can I register for the course? 
To register, visit this link and click on “Join”. You can create a new NPTEL account or log in with your existing Google account (recommended for ease). Once registered, you’ll receive a confirmation email from NPTEL.

I am unable to register – what do I do?
A few participants face registration issues. If that happens, try:
– Waiting a few hours and trying again
– Using a different browser
– Signing up with your Google, Facebook, or Microsoft account
If the issue persists, please write to us at [email protected], and we will connect you with the appropriate NPTEL team.

What is the schedule of the course?
Lectures: 2–3 hours of pre-recorded lectures per week (watch anytime)
Live session: 1-hour interactive session with faculty each week (day & time to be announced)
Assignments: Weekly, with 10 days to submit
Final Exam: You will have to appear for and pass in the final exam if you want a certificate. The final exam is an in-person exam with centres in multiple cities.

How do weekly assignments and the final exam count towards my certificate? I want to know more about the scoring system of exams.
To be eligible for a certificate, students need to meet two conditions. First, from the 12 assignments given during the course, the best 8 scores will be considered and averaged to calculate the assignment score, which carries 25% weightage. To qualify, this score must be at least 10 out of 25.
Second, students must appear for the in-person proctored exam, which carries 75% weightage. The exam is out of 100 marks, but it will be scaled to 75, and students must score at least 30 out of 75.
The final score is calculated by adding the assignment score (out of 25) and the exam score (out of 75). However, even if the total adds up to 40 marks or more, students will only receive the certificate if they clear both the minimum requirements in assignments and the exam separately.
In short, both assignments and the exam are important, and students need to do reasonably well in both to qualify for the certificate.

I want to take the course but not the final exam. Is that possible?
Yes, absolutely. You can simply choose not to register for the final exam. Please note, however, that without taking the exam, you will not receive a certificate, and if you are a college student, you will not be able to credit the course.

Is the course paid or unpaid?
The course itself is completely free of cost—all lectures and study materials are available at no charge. If you wish to receive a certificate or credit the course, you will need to register for the Final Examination, which costs Rs. 1000. While taking the exam is recommended, it is not mandatory.

Who can take this course?
This course is designed mainly for Bachelor’s and Master’s students in the life sciences, especially those considering a career in ornithology. However, it is equally valuable for birdwatchers and enthusiasts from the general public who wish to learn about the science of birds. Please note that this is an academic course and is not a course on birdwatching or identification.

I am a school student – can I join?
Yes! The course is open to anyone, regardless of age or background. Whether it’s suitable depends on your interest and comfort level with the content. You can always try it out, and if it feels too advanced, join again in a future offering—the course is likely to run every year.

How do I get a certificate?
To receive a certificate, you must appear for an in-person final exam on 17 April 2026
Two exam slots: 9 am – 12 noon or 2 pm – 5 pm
Fee: ₹1000, payable while registering for the exam
NPTEL opens exam registrations soon after the course starts.

Where are the exam centres located?
The exam will be conducted in person at multiple centres across India. A tentative list of centres will be released by NPTEL by the end of December, along with the exam registration form. Keep an eye on your NPTEL emails for updates.

I do not stay in India. Can I still join the course and take the exam?
Yes, absolutely. NPTEL has exam centres in a few locations outside India. You can find more about outside India exam centres here.
If there is no centre close to where you live, NPTEL also offers a proctored exam option. Please write to [email protected], and the NPTEL team will promptly guide you with the process.

What will the structure of the weekly assignments and the final exam be?
All questions will be multiple-choice or multiple-select, based on the lecture content. Each weekly assignment will have 20 questions, while the final exam will have 50 questions. The weekly assignments are designed to help you prepare for the final exam.

Will I get books or notes?
No, in this course, you do not get physical copies of books from us. However, you will receive access to pre-recorded lectures and lecture transcripts. The faculty will also share references to books, papers, and online resources for additional reading.

For any other course related questions, please see the NPTEL FAQ page here.

Past Iterations

With participants from every state and Union Territory in India, the course has completed four successful iterations, drawing a total of 15,747 registrations, including 2,222 exam takers. Learners span a wide range of backgrounds—bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD students, as well as faculty members—who have found the course both valuable and enriching. Beyond academia, many passionate birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts have also joined, eager to build a deeper understanding of the scientific study of birds. This diversity of learners makes the course a unique space where curiosity about birds meets structured scientific learning.

Testimonials

Ahana Bera (2022)
PhD student, IISER Kolkata
The course helped me clarify concepts ranging from avian taxonomy, evolution, and behaviour to experimental design and conservation. The course structure proved greatly helpful in preparing me for my PhD. It also offered an excellent platform to connect with researchers and learn about their work during the initial stages of my academic career.

Amurthur Ramamurthy
Passionate Birder
NPTEL basic Course on Ornithology was thorough, evenly paced, and knowledgeable instructors. I learned a new topic each week, read research articles, and enjoyed working on the assignments. Since this course, I cannot see or hear birds the same way as in the past!

Ishaan Prabhudesai
BSc student, Mumbai
The NPTEL Basic Course in Ornithology was a fantastic experience, with detailed and engaging lessons that made complex topics easy to understand. It not only strengthened my B.Sc. studies and made guiding birdwatching trails more insightful, but also helped me explain birds with clarity. Most importantly, it sparked my curiosity in the subfields of ornithology and built a strong foundation for my future Master’s studies.