Joost M. Tinbergen (born 1950, Groningen) is a Dutch ecologist.
Tinbergen is the son of the ornithologist Luuk Tinbergen, and nephew of Nobel-prize winning brothers Jan and Niko Tinbergen. His older brother is the film-maker Tijs Tinbergen.
Tinbergen gained his PhD from the University of Groningen in 1980. His thesis was 'Foraging decisions in Starlings'. He has been professor since 1994.