Erbium doped glasses having composition 20ZnO.xBi(2)O(3).(79.5 - x)B2O3 (15 <= x <= 35, x in mol%) were prepared by melt-quench technique. The spectroscopic properties were investigated using optical absorption and fluorescence spectra. The Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters, Omega(lambda) (lambda = 2, 4, 6) were determined from the spectral intensities of absorption bands in order to calculate the radiative transition probability (A(R)). radiative life time (t(R)), branching ratio (beta(R)) for various excited luminescent states. Using the emission spectra, full width at half maximum (FWHM), stimulated emission cross-section (sigma(e)) and figure of merit (FOM) were evaluated. The high values of Judd-Ofelt parameters indicate a substantial mixing of other electronic configuration into the 4f(N) configuration by the random crystal field in the glasses. All the intensity parameters (Omega(lambda)) decrease with increase in Bi2O3 content and the effect is found to be most pronounced for Omega(2) values. The structural investigations of the glasses were carried out by recording the IR transmission spectra. A correlation between the network forming units with the multi-phonon relaxation rate and hence with the possibility of radiative quantum efficiency has been made. In addition, various physical and optical parameters have been determined from the measured density and refractive index values. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.