The bird collection of the Museum of Zoology in Strasbourg comprises close to 18,000 specimens of which the vast majority are mounted animals. It also includes many skins, osteological parts and egg ensembles and encompasses more than 30% of extant species. The geographical origins are worldwide with some regions better represented than others corresponding to specific collectors or to the colonial territories of the successive French or German administrations. The majority of the material dates back to the period between 1800 and 1918, and it includes some specimens of rare or extinct species, but no types. Numerous collectors have contributed to the collection, among whom were prominent ornithologists (such as Adolf Nehrkorn, John Gould, Alfred Brehm, Nicolas Saucerotte, Adolphe Boucard, Wilhelm von Hinüber), local naturalists (for example Georg Wilhelm Schimper with his birds from northeastern Africa, Albert Wehrung and his european egg collection) and also Natural History agencies such as Gustav Schneider in Basel and the Museum Godeffroy in Hamburg.