The Auk: Ornithological Advances aims to advance fundamental scientific knowledge by increasing the basic knowledge of bird species, both living and extinct, and the knowledge of broad biological concepts through studies of bird species. The Auk has been published continuously since 1884 and was recently recognized as one of the 100 most influential journals of biology and medicine over the past 100 years. The journal holds an Impact Factor of 2.442, making it the third-ranked journal in the field of ornithology. The Auk holds the highest 5 Year Impact Factor of all ornithology journals, 2.438.

Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide. OUP is the world's largest university press with the widest global presence. It currently publishes more than 6,000 new publications a year, has offices in around fifty countries, and employs more than 5,500 people worldwide. It has become familiar to millions through a diverse publishing program that includes scholarly works in all academic disciplines, bibles, music, school and college textbooks, business books, dictionaries and reference books, and academic journals.