ornithophilic

comparative more ornithophilic · superlative most ornithophilic

1. Fond of birds.

   In countries such as the US, bird-feeding, birdwatching, and other types of ornithophilic behaviour form the basis of huge conservation efforts, in tandem with science.

   2010, Mark Bonta, “Ethno-ornithology and Biological Conservation”, in Sonia Tidemann, Andrew Gosler, editors, Ethno-ornithology: Birds, Indigenous Peoples, Culture and Society, London: Earthscan, →ISBN, pages 21–22

   Synonyms: aviphilic, bird-loving

2. biologyThat feeds on birds.

   Unlike the alphaviruses that produce arthritis, human cases occur in an epizootic from an enzootic cycle involving passerine birds and ornithophilic mosquitoes.

   2009, Encyclopedia of Microbioology, page 316

   1 more example

   When the birds leave their breeding sites in the autumn the mosquito turns to humans. The London Underground molestus are not ornithophilic. We have nothing to fear from them.

   2007, Hugh Pennington, ‘The Problem with Biodiversity’, London Review of Books, volume 29, number 9

   Synonyms: aviphilic