Aviculture is the practice of keeping and breeding birds, especially of wild birds in captivity, and including poultry, in controlled conditions, normally within the confines of a cage or an aviary.
Some reasons for aviculture are: breeding birds as a hobby, a business like a zoo, or sometimes for research and conservation purposes to preserve and protect some endangered avian species that are at risk due to habitat destruction, the illegal wildlife trade, diseases, and natural disasters. Aviculture encourages conservation, provides education about avian species, provides companion birds for the public, and includes research on avian behaviour. Popular birds people like to keep and breed include budgerigars, cockatiels, finches, macaws, domestic canaries, columbidae (pigeons and doves), loriini (lories and lorikeets), cockatoos, conures, and African grey parrots.
Aviculture (ˈā-və-ˌkəl-chər), also known as bird keeping, is the process of keeping, raising, and breeding avians, especially birds from the wild in captivity. Raising and breeding birds are not the sole focus of aviculture; the practice also encompasses the conservation of avian habitats, species preservation, and the promotion of public awareness regarding bird welfare and biodiversity. Aviculture can range from keeping birds for companion, commercial or hobby, exhibition and research, to poultry husbandry.
Aviculture has been practiced for thousands of years in human history, with evidence of bird keeping found in ancient civilizations where birds were kept for food, beauty, communication, and symbolism. In the modern context, aviculture has evolved into a multidisciplinary field that intersects with biology, ecology, veterinary science, and conservation management.
Those who practice aviculture are "aviculturists." Aviculturists may work in private collections, breeding facilities, zoos, sanctuaries, or research institutions, each practicing for different goals such as genetic management, education, or species recovery.
Nowadays, aviculture is also a popular hobby, with birdkeeping enthusiasts from all over the world. A major part of also its role in bird conservation. Captive breeding programs have helped protect endangered species by maintaining healthy populations in controlled environments. Sometimes these programs also support the reintroduction of birds into the wild.
Responsible aviculture places strong importance on the welfare of the birds, including proper housing, balanced nutrition, good health care, and opportunities for natural behaviors. As many global issues such as habitat loss, climate change, and illegal wildlife trade continue to threaten bird populations, aviculture remains both useful and controversial. It is viewed as a tool that can support education, research, and conservation when practiced ethically and responsibly.
Avicultural societies
In the UK, the Avicultural Society was formed in 1894 and the Foreign Bird League in 1932. In 1973, Aviornis was created, a bird-breeding association present in several European countries.
The oldest avicultural society in the United States is the Avicultural Society of America, founded in 1927. The ASA produces a bi-monthly magazine, ASA Avicultural Bulletin. The ASA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that focuses on breeding, conservation, restoration and education.
The first avicultural society in Australia was The Avicultural Society of South Australia, founded in 1928. It is now promoted with the name Bird Keeping in Australia. The two major national avicultural societies in the United States are the American Federation of Aviculture and the Avicultural Society of America, founded in 1927. The Budgerigar Society was formed in 1925.
The Avicultural Society of South Australia (founded in 1928) produces a monthly full-colour magazine, Bird Keeping in Australia.
History
The practice of bird keeping can be traced back in time for over 6,000 years ago, There has been a record to indicate that birds have been kept in captivity for poultry, According to H. H. Scullard (as cited in Johnson, Lee R.,1968), Excavations among the Terramare people have revealed that these early inhabitants of peninsula had domesticated the chicken and the duck as early as 1700 B.C.
According to Best and Walker, 2020, There are even older records of pigeons being kept in Mesopotamia as early as 4500 B.C. (as cited it J Archaeol Res, 2025)
Aviculture has been a part of human civilisation for many purposes, civilisations have translocated bird species, both domesticated and non-domesticated, across regions to serve as food, decorative elements, hunting stock, or companions. (Phillip Cassey et al. 2015).Phillip Cassey (2015). The biogeography of avian invasions: History, accident and market trade. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308367288_The_biogeography_of_avian_invasions_History_accident_and_market_trade[accessed Mar 27 2026]. so much that "birds have colonised and occupied all major landforms, oceans, and islands of the world" (p. 1) A few species have undergone full domestication, whereas others have been raised in captive environments over through generations.
The origins of domestication Domestication of poultry was significantly tied to the development of early agriculture (J Archaeol Res, 2025). In Southeast Asia, the transition from wild birds to domestic chickens occurred between 1650 and 1250 B.C., where dry rice and millet are cultivated across the region, drawing wild red junglefowl into human settlements (Peters et al., 2022).Peters, J., Lebrasseur, O., Irving-Pease, E. K., Paxinos, P. D., Best, J., Smallman, R., Callou, C., Gardeisen, A., Trixl, S., Frantz, L., Sykes, N., Fuller, D. Q., & Larson, G. (2022). The biocultural origins and dispersal of domestic chickens. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(24), https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2121978119 This created a relationship between the species and human, making them grow into a member of human societies. The early avian relationships were not uniform; while some species became fully domestic, others were kept in managed or captive states to fulfil specific cultural and practical roles.
The goose (Anser cygnoides) is likely the first bird species to be kept. Recent genetic and archaeological evidence has indicated that there are breeding taking place outside the current area where geese naturally breed today (Shi et al., 2006).Wang, C. M., Way, T. D., Chang, Y. C., Yen, N. T., Hu, C. L., Nien, P. C., Jea, Y. S., Chen, L. R., & Kao, J. Y. (2010). The origin of the white Roman goose. Biochemical Genetics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10528-010-9374-8
Another breed that has a long history of relationship with human is pigeon, which descended from rock doves (Columba livia). With many records of self-domesticated near human colonies, then exploited for consumption. The oldest records dated back to the birds being sustainably harvested by Neanderthals (Blasco et al. 2014), Iraq and Assyrian (Zeuner 1963).
Meanwhile Ancient Egyptians kept them for ceremonial offerings, and Greek have statues and vases dated to the 5th century BC depict people holding the birds (Hawes 1984).
In Europe, the medieval period witnessed widespread use of dovecotes, which were a symbol of status as humans began to encourage birds to roost.
The global translocation of avian species The global movement of birds can be divided into two main periods. The first period is moved by European Acclimatisation Societies occurring between the 18th and 20th centuries, as the human world was at the age of discovery and colonisation. The movements people also created transportation and trading of many species and introducing species of birds to new colonies as a result. (Crosby Jr, 1972). The movement of human history during the time significantly influenced on biodiversity of nations avaina that “40% of all known bird introductions occurred as a result of activity relating to the British occupation of just four geopolitical regions: Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, and the continental USA (Blackburn et al., 2009)”Blackburn, T. M., Cassey, P., Duncan, R. P., Evans, K. L., & Gaston, K. J. (2004). Avian extinction and mammalian introductions on oceanic islands. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1101617
The second period; the era of the international trade in wild birds for bird-keeping from the late-twentieth century to the nowadays. (Cassey et al., 2015).
In this era of international trade typically moves birds in reverse direction from the previous era, often moving from former colonies in South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia toward Europe and North America.
Challenges Birds exhibit strong sensitivity to changes in environmental conditions, and their responses vary significantly between species due to differences in ecological traits. Ground-nesting and habitat specialists (e.g., larks, bustards) are especially vulnerable. For instance, The Great Bustard ( Otis tarda ), which demands large, intact grassland habitats free from disturbance for lekking and nesting, shows a decrease in population with even moderate increases in human infrastructure and grazing pressure (Rocha et al. 2013; Végvári et al. 2016).Rocha, P. , Morales M. B., and Moreira F.. 2013. "Nest Site Habitat Selection and Nesting Performance of the Great Bustard Otis Tarda in Southern Portugal: Implications for Conservation." Bird Conservation International 23, no. 3: 323–336. 10.1017/S0959270912000202. DOI Google ScholarVégvári, Z. , Valkó O., Deák B., Török P., Konyhás S., and Tóthmérész B.. 2016. "Effects of Land Use and Wildfires on the Habitat Selection of Great Bustard (Otis tardal.)—Implications for Species Conservation." Land Degradation & Development 27, no. 4: 910–918. 10.1002/ldr.2495.DOI Google Scholar
In comparison to some generalist species such as the corvids may initially tolerate or even gain advantage from low-intensity disturbance as a consequence of expanded foraging opportunities in disturbed patches (Han et al. 2025),Han, Z. , Yang X., Zhang L., Tryjanowski P., Jiguet F., and Wang H.. 2025. "Responses of Steppe Birds to Habitat Fragmentation: Insights From Niche Specialization and Functional Traits." Avian Research 16, no. 3: 100257. 10.1016/j.avrs.2025.100257. DOI Google Scholar although continued persistence often obscure broader community degradation. At the community level, steppe bird assemblages have been significantly altered by the increasing of human footprint. Declines in species richness and abundance have consistently been reported by researchers along gradients of disturbance intensity, particularly outwit moderate levels of grazing to habitat conversion (Liang et al. 2019).Liang, C. , Yang G., Wang N., et al. 2019. “Taxonomic, Phylogenetic and Functional Homogenization of Bird Communities due to Land Use Change.” Biological Conservation 236: 37–43. Google Scholar
Additionally, activities relate to human can expose wildlife to pesticides and other pollutants, placing additional stress on bird populations (Tassin de Montaigu and Goulson 2020; Rigal et al. 2023).Tassin de Montaigu, C. , and Goulson D.. 2020. “Identifying Agricultural Pesticides That May Pose a Risk for Birds.” PeerJ 8: e9526. 10.7717/peerj.9526. DOI PMC free article PubMed Google ScholarRigal, S. , Dakos V., Alonso H., et al. 2023. “Farmland Practices Are Driving Bird Population Decline Across Europe.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 120, no. 21: 9. 10.1073/pnas.2216573120. DOI PMC free article PubMed Google Scholar