1879 in birding and ornithology
| Years in birding and ornithology: | 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 | 
| Centuries: | 18th century · 19th century · 20th century | 
| Decades: | 1840s 1850s 1860s 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s | 
| Years: | 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 | 
Birds described in 1879 include the grey-headed silverbill, Macquarie rail, flame bowerbird, Cockerell's fantail, rufous-vented niltava, slaty cuckooshrike, Makira dwarf kingfisher, black-billed turaco, dusky-backed jacamar, buff-bellied tanager and the Santa Marta sabrewing, Rodrigues starling.