A biological observation apparatus comprises a color image signal creating section that performs signal processing on either a first image pickup signal for which a subject to be examined illuminated by white illumination light is picked up by a color filter having a transmitting characteristic of a plurality of broadband wavelengths or a second image pickup signal for which a subject to be examined is picked up under illumination of frame sequential illumination lights which cover a visible range, and creates a color image signal. The biological observation apparatus comprises a spectral image signal creating section that creates a spectral image signal corresponding to a narrowband image signal through signal processing on a color image signal based on the first or second image pickup signal. The biological observation apparatus comprises one of a characteristic changing/setting section for a display color converting section that performs conversion of display colors when causing the spectral image signal to be displayed or the like, an interface section for performing an instruction operation for switching and/or confirming information including an image to be displayed, or the like.
