Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology is the leading ornithological journal in Africa, and publishes peer-reviewed scientific papers and short communications (<2,000 words) on all aspects of ornithology conducted in Africa and its associated islands and marine habitats. Contributions reporting on avian behaviour, breeding, conservation, demography, ecology, migration, morphology and systematics are welcome. Review articles are particularly encouraged. Extended taxonomic papers may be considered for publication particularly if they include relevant discussion of behavioural, ecological or biogeographic criteria. The journal also publishes book reviews. Articles published in Ostrich are expected to be of value to ornithologists, ecologists, conservationists and interested bird-watchers. Ostrich is the scientific journal of BirdLife South Africa.
Journal metrics
Usage
15K annual downloads/views
Citation metrics
1.3 (2023) Impact Factor
Q2 Impact Factor Best Quartile
1.1 (2023) 5 year IF
2.1 (2023) CiteScore (Scopus)
0.575 (2023) SNIP
0.387 (2023) SJR
Speed/acceptance
41 days avg. from submission to first
decision
64 days avg. from submission to first
post-review decision
63% acceptance rate
Understanding and using journal metrics
Journal metrics can be a useful tool for readers, as well as for authors
who are deciding where to submit their next manuscript for publication.
However, any one metric only tells a part of the story of a journal’s
quality and impact. Each metric has its limitations which means that it
should never be considered in isolation, and metrics should be used to
support and not replace qualitative review.
We strongly recommend that you always use a number of metrics, alongside
other qualitative factors such as a journal’s aims & scope, its
readership, and a review of past content published in the journal. In
addition, a single article should always be assessed on its own merits and
never based on the metrics of the journal it was published in.
Usage and acceptance rate data above are for the last full calendar year
and are updated annually in February. Speed data is updated every six
months, based on the prior six months. Citation metrics are updated
annually mid-year. Please note that some journals do not display all of
the following metrics
(find out why).
Usage:
the total number of times articles in the journal were viewed by users
of Taylor & Francis Online in the previous calendar year, rounded to the
nearest thousand.
Citation Metrics
Impact Factor*:
the average number of citations received by articles published in the
journal within a two-year window. Only journals in the Clarivate Science
Citation Index Expanded (SCIE), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI),
Arts and Humanities Citation Index (AHCI) and the Emerging Sources
Citation Index (ESCI) have an Impact Factor.
Impact Factor Best Quartile*:
the journal’s highest subject category ranking in the Journal Citation
Reports. Q1 = 25% of journals with the highest Impact Factors.
5 Year Impact Factor*:
the average number of citations received by articles in the journal
within a five-year window.
CiteScore (Scopus)†:
the average number of citations received by articles in the journal over
a four-year period.
CiteScore Best Quartile†:
the journal’s highest CiteScore ranking in a Scopus subject category. Q1
= 25% of journals with the highest CiteScores.
SNIP
(Source Normalized Impact per Paper):
the number of citations per paper in the journal, divided by citation
potential in the field.
SJR
(Scimago Journal Rank):
Average number of (weighted) citations in one year, divided by the
number of articles published in the journal in the previous three years.
Speed/acceptance
From submission to first decision:
the average (median) number of days for a manuscript submitted to the
journal to receive a first decision. Based on manuscripts receiving a
first decision in the last six months.
From submission to first post-review decision:
the average (median) number of days for a manuscript submitted to the
journal to receive a first decision if it is sent out for peer review.
Based on manuscripts receiving a post-review first decision in the last
six months.
From acceptance to online publication:
the average (median) number of days from acceptance of a manuscript to
online publication of the Version of Record. Based on articles published
in the last six months.
Acceptance rate:
articles accepted for publication by the journal in the previous
calendar year as percentage of all papers receiving a final decision.
Editor-in-Chief Dr Martim Melo Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (CIBIO); Natural History and Science Museum, University of Porto, Portugal
Deputy Editors-in-Chief Prof. Derek Engelbrecht, Department of Biodiversity, Universityof Limpopo, South Africa Dr Alan TK Lee, FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI/NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town;Centre for Functional Biodiversity, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Associate Editors Dr Alexandre Caron, French Agricultural Research Centre forInternational Development (CIRAD), Zimbabwe Dr Anina Coetzee, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa Dr Tegan Douglas, BirdLife Australia, Australia Dr Birgit Erni, University of Cape Town, South Africa Dr Doug Harebottle, Sol Plaaitjie University, South Africa Dr Mohamed Henriques, University of Groningen, The Netherlands Dr Jerry Huntley, American Museum of Natural History,United States Dr Soladaye B Iwajomo, University of Lagos, Nigeria Dr Jessica Kemper, African Penguin Conservation Project,Namibia Dr Ricardo Lima, University of Lisbon, Portugal Dr Michel Louette, Africamuseum, Belgium Dr Machawe Maphalala, University of Eswatini, Eswatini Dr Susan Miller, FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology,University of Cape Town, South Africa Dr Matthew J Noakes, University of Pretoria, South Africa Dr Graeme Oatley, University of Otago, New Zealand Dr Krista Oswald, Rhodes University, South Africa Dr Ulf Ottosson, Ottenby Bird Observatory, Sweden Dr Amanda R Ridley, University of Western Australia, Australia;University of Cape Town, South Africa Dr Richard Sherley, University of Exeter, United Kingdom
Editorial Advisory Board Dr Imad Cherkaoui, Moulay Ismail University, Morocco Prof Afrian Craig, Rhodes University, South Africa Prof Colleen Downs, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Dr Melissa Whitecross, Birdlife South Africa, South Africa Dr David Maphisa, South African National Biodiversity Institute, South Africa Dr Samuel Temidayo Osinubi, FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, BirdLife International, Nigeria Dr Lizanne Roxburgh, FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, South Africa Dr Manu Shiiwua, AP Leventis Ornithological Research Institute, Nigeria
Book Reviews Editor Ms Janine Dunlop, FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Abstract Translators Dr Imad Cherkaoui, Moulay Ismail University, Morocco Ms Celine Geiger, Environmental engineer, France Alexandre Thouzeau, Independent environmental consultant, France
Social Media Manager Mr. Cameron Blair, FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa Twitter: @ostrichJAO
Open access
Ostrich is a hybrid open access journal that is part of our Open Select publishing program, giving you the option to publish open access. Publishing open access means that your article will be free to access online immediately on publication, increasing the visibility, readership, and impact of your research.
Why choose open access?
Increase the discoverability and readership of your article
Make an impact and reach new readers, not just those with easy access to a research library
Freely share your work with anyone, anywhere
Comply with funding mandates and meet the requirements of your institution, employer or funder
Rigorous peer review for every open access article
Article Publishing Charges (APC)
If you choose to publish open access in this journal you may be asked to pay an Article Publishing Charge (APC). You may be able to publish your article at no cost to yourself or with a reduced APC if your institution or research funder has an open access agreement or membership with Taylor & Francis.
BirdLife South Africa was founded in 1905 as the South African Ornithologists' Union. It is the only dedicated bird conservation organisation in South Africa, and part of a global network of more than 120 BirdLife Partners who work together to conserve the world’s birds.
The vision of BirdLife South Africa is to see a country and region where nature and people live in greater harmony, more equitably and sustainably. BirdLife South Africa’s mission is to strive to conserve birds, their habitats and biodiversity through scientifically-based programmes, through supporting the sustainable and equitable use of natural resources and by encouraging people to enjoy and value nature.
BirdLife South Africa produces a scientific journal, Ostrich, and a magazine, African Birdlife. Ostrich is Africa’s foremost ornithological journal, with the first issue being published in 1930.
BirdLife South Africa is a membership-based organisation, with the members deriving several benefits, including receiving six issues per annum of African Birdlife magazine.
NISC (Pty) Ltd make every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the "Content") contained in our publications. However, NISC (Pty) Ltd, our agents (including the editor, any member of the editorial team or editorial board, and any guest editors), and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by NISC (Pty) Ltd. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. NISC (Pty) Ltd shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to, or arising out of the use of the Content. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions .
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