The MVZ bird collection is one of the largest in the United States. It houses over 185,000 catalogued specimens, including 174 holotype and 2 syntypes. The majority of specimens are study skins, but the collection also contains over 21,000 skeletal specimens and 3,200 fluid-preserved specimens. Other types of preparations include flat specimens (wings, skins) and body skins with skeletons ("schmoos"). Tissues, anatomical parts (e.g., syrinx, stomach contents), and parasites are routinely preserved with specimens. Many specimens also are associated with cataloged audio recordings.

Online since: 04/05/2020
Last update: 15/12/2024

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How to cite

Museum of Vertebrate Zoology (MVZ), University of California, Berkeley

Contacts

Biologist:
Carla Cicero
ccicero@berkeley.edu
Biologist:
Laura Russell
larussell@vertnet.org