Birds of the World is an ornithology reference platform from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, bringing together scholarly content from four celebrated works to provide comprehensive life-history information on bird species and families worldwide. Designed for biologists and birders, it supports exploration through species accounts, family overviews, taxonomy and phylogeny resources, maps, and multimedia. The site covers 11,167 species across 251 families and draws on a global body of research and observations, including eBird records and Macaulay Library media.

Accounts are continually updated, with both partial and full revisions, and the platform also shares species news, webinars, and ornithological notes. Visitors can browse previews, while subscriptions unlock full access to species accounts, maps, multimedia, and family overviews. Birds of the World offers personal and institutional subscriptions for audiences such as libraries, agencies, nature centers, nonprofits, and other organizations, along with special member access through participating groups.

By combining scientific depth with accessible discovery tools, the resource helps users learn about bird diversity and natural history