:See also 2000 in birding and ornithology, main events of 2001, other specialist lists of events in 2001 and 2002 in birding and ornithology.
Worldwide
New species
:See also Bird species new to science described in the 2000s
- The Bukidnon woodcock from the Philippines is described as new to science in the journal Forktail
To be completed
Taxonomic developments
To be completed
Europe
Britain
Breeding birds
To be completed
Migrant and wintering birds
- Record-breaking numbers of rose-coloured starling reach Britain.
Rare birds
- Britain's first red-billed tropicbird is photographed at sea off the Isles of Scilly in June.
- A grey catbird on Anglesey in October is the first for Britain.
- Britain's first snowy egret is found in Argyll in November, and remains in southwestern Scotland, touring a variety of locations, throughout much of 2002
- A green heron (Britain's fourth) is found in Lincolnshire in September
Other Events
- The British Birdwatching Fair has eastern Cuba as its theme for the year.
Scandinavia
To be completed
North America
To be completed
Asia
Japan
- In late August, a juvenile Calidris sandpiper is found in Japan which appears to be of the hybrid form known as Cox's sandpiper, only the second time this plumage has been recorded