Why is the oboe part of the woodwind family?

Answer 1

The Oboe was and is made out of wood. All woodwind instruments are constructed out of a wood body with metal keys. The Flute and piccolo are the only woodwind instruments that do not use wooden reeds as a mouthpiece.

Clarinets and saxophones (a hybrid of brass and woodwind) use single reeds held onto the mouth joint by a ligature, a small metal clamp.

Oboes, English horns, and bassoons use a double reed, composed out of two thin reeds of bamboo held together by twine and cork, that are inserted either directly into the upper joint (oboe and horn) or attached to a bocal - a curved piece of hollow metal - and then to the bassoon.

Unlike its woodwind companions, the flute and piccolo are hollow tubes with an opening across the upper surface. Air is not blown directly into the hole, either, as with those listed above, but across it, producing a sound.

Most woodwind instruments are made of wood or plastic now, except for flute, piccolos, and saxophones. They are more often made out of metal, such as brass, nickle, or silver. Marching instruments are rarely made of wood, because of the harsh weather conditions that the instruments may be subjected to. All woodwind instruments also have corks and pads on the underside of every key, held in place by springs. This ensures that you have a solid air flow through the instrument to produce the best sound possible.

Answer 2

Because it is made of wood (originally) and sounds are made by forcing wind through it.