The Waterbird Society, formerly known as the Colonial Waterbirds Society, is a United States based ornithological society, focusing on the behavior, ecology, and conservation of waterbirds. It was founded in 1976 as the Colonial Waterbird Group, becoming the Colonial Waterbird Society in 1986 and acquiring its current name in 1999 to reflect an expanding interest in all waterbirds. The Society operates mostly on annual membership dues.

The society is led by a council headed by a President, a Vice-president, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.

Presidents of the Waterbird Society:

The Waterbird Society presents awards periodically to individuals for outstanding contribution to waterbird science, exemplary service to the Society, and to students for excellence in scientific presentations and posters at Annual Meetings.

To recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to waterbird science, two international awards have been instituted. The Robert Cushman Murphy Prize is given for excellence in avian sciences, and the Kai Curry-Lindahl Prize for excellence in conservation biology.

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes members of the Waterbird Society who have provided exemplary service to the Society and its members.

The Waterbird Society awards annual grants for research projects from funds that were provided by two former presidents of the Society. Proposals for these awards can be submitted from anywhere globally. The Nisbet Research Award was set up by Dr. Ian Newton for work focusing on gulls and terns. The Kushlan Research Award was instituted by Dr. James Kushlan with the goal to encourage scientific research on Ciconiiformes (herons, storks, ibis, spoonbills, and their taxonomic allies).

The Waterbird Society is a member of the Ornithological Council.