What is the scientific term for the study of bird eggs?

Oology is a branch of ornithology studying bird eggs, nests and breeding behaviour.

The word is derived from the Greek "oion", meaning "egg".

Oology became increasingly popular in Britain and the United States during the 1800s. Observing birds from afar was difficult because high-quality binoculars were not readily available. Thus it was often more practical to shoot the birds or collect their eggs.

While the collection of the eggs of wild birds by amateurs was considered a respectable scientific pursuit in the 19th century and early 20th century, from the mid 20th century onwards it was increasingly regarded as being a hobby rather than a scientific discipline.