1858 in birding and ornithology

• Birds described in 1858 include phainopepla, northwestern crow, red-necked crake, white-headed wood hoopoe, Wallace's fruit-dove, Arctic warbler
• George Robert Gray publishes A list of the birds, with descriptions of new species obtained by Mr. Alfred R. Wallace in the Aru and Ké Islands in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. ^[1]
• Heinrich von Kittlitz publishes Denkwürdigkeiten einer Reise nach dem russischen Amerika, nach Mikronesien und durch Kamtschatka.
• British Ornithologists' Union founded.^[2]
• Coenraad Jacob Temminck dies. His post at Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie is awarded to Hermann Schlegel

Expeditions

• 1857–1860 SMS Novara Ornithology directed by Johann Zelebor.

Ongoing events

• John Gould The birds of Australia; Supplement 1851–69. 1 vol. 81 plates; Artists: J. Gould and H. C. Richter; Lithographer: H. C. Richter
• John Gould The birds of Asia; 1850-83 7 vols. 530 plates, Artists: J. Gould, H. C. Richter, W. Hart and J. Wolf; Lithographers:H. C. Richter and W. Hart