- For editors
- International Journal of Ornithology
Editors Guidelines
The responsibilities that Editorial Board members work to when handling manuscripts for the International Journal of Ornithology.
What editors do
Editors assess manuscripts for fit with the journal's scope, invite suitable reviewers, weigh the reviews and make a recommendation or decision. They work to the journal's Editorial Policies.
Assessment
All submissions undergo initial editorial screening. Manuscripts that meet the journal's scope and minimum requirements proceed to independent peer review.
Editorial decisions are based on scope, scientific quality, methodological rigor, ethical compliance, reporting quality, and relevance to the journal. Single-blind by default; double-blind review is available on request. Manuscripts that proceed to external peer review are normally evaluated by at least two independent subject-matter experts.
When double-blind review is requested, editors must ensure that author-identifying information is not shared with reviewers.
Conflicts, confidentiality and ethics
- Decline any manuscript in which you have a conflict of interest, and tell the editorial office.
- Treat manuscripts, reviews and decisions as confidential.
- Check that research on live birds reports ethics approval and permits where applicable, and that data-availability statements are present.
- Report suspected misconduct, such as plagiarism, data fabrication or undisclosed conflicts, to the editorial office.
- Reviewers must obtain journal permission before using AI to assist with a review. Any permitted use must be disclosed, and confidential manuscript content must not be uploaded where confidentiality cannot be assured. Editors apply the same rule to their own work.
Independence
Editorial decisions remain independent of fees, services, memberships and roles. Choose reviewers on expertise, not on affiliation or relationship to the authors.