Shows
The Science of BirdsNightjars, Nighthawks, and Other GoatsuckersIn this episode, Ivan Phillipsen takes listeners on an immersive journey into the strange and secretive world of birds in the family Caprimulgidae. These cryptically colored, nocturnal birds include nightjars, nighthawks, poorwills, and whip-poor-wills. Ivan does a deep dive into the fascinating biology of this group—everything from their silent flight and frog-like gapes to their odd names and eerie calls.Listeners will learn about the distinctive physical traits and behaviors that define caprimulgids, including their specialized eyes for low-light vision, aerial insect-hunting strategies, and bizarre mating displays involving wing claps and booming dives. Ivan also explores th...2025-05-1354 minThe Science of BirdsHow to Find BirdsIn this episode—which is number 115—Ivan Phillipsen guides listeners through the art and science of finding birds—a skill that even seasoned birders are always refining. While birds are everywhere, intentionally locating them in nature can be surprisingly difficult. Ivan breaks down bird-finding as a multi-scale strategy, starting from intercontinental trip planning all the way down to spotting a skulky sparrow in a dense bush. With insight from a decade of leading birding tours and inspiration from Pete Dunne’s book The Art of Bird Finding, this episode is packed with practical tips.Learn how to use digi...2025-04-231h 10The Science of BirdsThe OspreyIn this episode—which is Number 114—host Ivan Phillipsen dives into the world of the Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)—a bird that’s all about fish. With a global distribution and a singular place in the avian family tree, the Osprey is both biologically unique and instantly recognizable. Ivan explores this raptor’s physical traits, from its distinctive wing shape to its powerful, semi-zygodactyl feet designed for grabbing slippery prey.Listeners will also learn about the Osprey’s evolutionary history, its cosmopolitan range, and the adaptations that allow it to thrive on a diet of pretty much just fish. The ep...2025-04-0755 minThe Science of BirdsTraditional Field Guides vs. Mobile Apps: A Birder's DilemmaIn this episode—which is number 113—host Ivan Phillipsen explores the fascinating crossroads of tradition and technology in the world of birding. With a mix of personal anecdotes and professional insights, he dives into the enduring charm of printed bird field guides and the meteoric rise of mobile birding apps. Whether you’re a seasoned birder with a weathered Sibley guide or a tech-savvy explorer armed with Merlin, this episode will resonate with your bird-loving heart.Ivan takes listeners on a thoughtful tour of how both tools have evolved over time—from the early days of illustrated field bo...2025-03-2147 minThe Science of BirdsFrom the Field: PatagoniaIn this "From the Field" episode, which is number 112, host Ivan Phillipsen shares his recent experiences birding in Patagonia while leading a two-week tour through this remote and breathtaking region. Speaking from Puerto Varas, Chile, he provides an immersive account of the landscapes, birdlife, and unique ecology of Patagonia, spanning both Argentina and Chile. Ivan explores the geography of the region, highlighting the towering Andes, vast Patagonian Steppe, and dramatic glacial fjords. He also dives into the region’s ecological dynamics, including the stark contrast between the lush Magellanic subpolar forests and the arid steppe, shaped by the...2025-03-141h 04The Science of BirdsCrossbillsIn this episode, which is number 111, Ivan Phillipsen explores the fascinating world of crossbills, a unique group of finches with an extraordinary beak adaptation. These birds, found across North America, Europe, and Asia, use their specialized crossed bills to extract seeds from conifer cones—a skill few other birds possess. Ivan discusses the six recognized crossbill species, their distinct feeding strategies, and how their beaks evolved for this specialized diet.The episode highlights the complex classification of crossbills, particularly the Red Crossbill, which has multiple "call types" that may represent different evolutionary paths. Ivan explains how...2025-02-1649 minThe Science of BirdsCooperative Breeding in BirdsIn this episode—which is number 110—Ivan explores the fascinating world of cooperative breeding in birds, a system in which multiple adults help raise young in a group setting. He begins with an intriguing story from the Kalahari Desert, where Southern Pied-Babblers resort to “chicknapping” during droughts to bolster their flock size. Ivan then broadens the discussion, examining the global distribution of cooperative breeding among bird species and the evolutionary mechanisms that drive this behavior. He introduces key scientific concepts, such as inclusive fitness and kin selection, to explain why some birds delay their own reproduction to assist re...2025-02-0158 minThe Science of BirdsFrom the Field: Birding Nepal and BhutanThe final installment of "From the Field" episodes from Ivan's 2.5-month journey through Asia. In this episode he describes his experiences in the Himalayan countries of Nepal and Bhutan. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Support the show2025-01-1100 minThe Science of BirdsFrom the Field: Birding in ChinaIvan shares his birding experiences and impressions from an amazing 3-week adventure through the provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan in China. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Support the show2024-12-2651 minThe Science of BirdsFrom the Field: Birds and Birding in Vietnam and CambodiaRecorded in a hotel room in China, Ivan shares his recent birding and travel experiences in the countries of Vietnam and Cambodia. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Support the show2024-12-0251 minThe Science of BirdsFrom the Field: How My Life Became All About BirdsFrom a hotel in Vietnam, Ivan tells the tale of how he created a career centered on birds and birding. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Support the show2024-11-1431 minThe Science of BirdsOwlsThis episode—which is number 88—is all about owls. Owls are fascinating birds that have captured our imaginations since the dawn of humankind. They have amazing camouflage that allows them to blend in with their surroundings, and they have several other avian superpowers that set them apart from all other birds. Owls are divided into two families—Tytonidae and Strigidae—and we'll be discussing both of them today.Links of InterestOwl Notes–Denver Holt Shares the Short eared Owl's Courtship Flight [VIDEO]Long-whiskered Owlet (Xenoglaux loweryi) [VIDEO]The silent flight of an owl [VI...2023-12-161h 28The Science of BirdsAvian Rebrand: New Names for Many North American BirdsThis episode—which is Number 87—is all about some big news in the birding world. The common names for about 150 North American bird species are going to change in the not-too-distant future.This comes from an announcement made by the American Ornithological Society just a few weeks ago, on November 1st.I couldn’t pass up the chance to talk about this. It’s a hot topic among birders right now. People have been asking me what I think about all these birds getting renamed. And so here we are.If you’re hearing ab...2023-11-2646 minThe Science of BirdsBird Beaks: The Right Tool for the JobThis episode—which is Number 86—is all about bird beaks.This will be an overview of beak anatomy, function, evolution, and diversity.The head of every bird on Earth is adorned with a beak. A bill. And to the delight of us all, those beaks come in a wild variety of shapes and colors. Just picture the mugs of toucans, vultures, ducks, parrots, flamingos, and pelicans.The diversity of beak shapes like these is one of the fascinating things about birds. Birds use their beaks for all sorts of task...2023-11-1048 minThe Science of BirdsMeadowlarksThis episode—which is Number 85—is about the Meadowlarks of the world.And it’s not just those three North American species: the Western, Eastern, and Chihuahuan. There are actually 8 bird species we call meadowlarks. The other five are found primarily in South America. We’ll be talking about them today, too.Meadowlarks belong to the New World Blackbird family, Icteridae. This family includes birds like Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, and the Great-tailed Grackle.There’s a lot to admire about meadowlarks. The 3 yellow-breasted and 5 red-breasted meadowlark species bring color and music to t...2023-10-1944 minThe Science of BirdsSaving Bird Species From the Brink of ExtinctionThis is Episode 84. Our topic today is the challenge of saving bird species that are very close to extinction. Species like the Spix’s Macaw, which have tiny global populations—whether in the wild, or in captivity.Other familiar examples are the California Condor and the Whooping Crane, whose populations bottomed out at 22 and 23, respectively. Rigorous conservation programs have since given these two North American species a fighting chance at long-term survival.This episode is about species that we almost lost forever, but with great effort we’ve kept them from disappearing. Many of the...2023-10-0951 minThe Science of BirdsQuails of the New WorldThis is Episode 83. It’s all about birds in the family Odontophoridae. These are the New World quails.Why is this the family of "New World" quails?Because there’s a whole mess of birds we call quails that live in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. But those birds all belong to the pheasant family, Phasianidae. New World quails are shy birds ground-dwelling birds that walk or run around in the daytime, looking for tidbits of food in the leaf litter.If they sense any kind of stranger danger, they hunker down...2023-09-251h 01The Science of BirdsTracking Methods: How We Know Where Birds GoThis is Episode 82. It's all about the ways that scientists track the movements of individual birds.The focus of today’s episode is not so much about the behaviors of birds, but about the technologies used by researchers to study bird behavior—the methods used to reveal the movements of birds.And our focus will be on the tracking of individual birds. There are other methods scientists use to record the mass movements of birds, like using radar to track flocks of migrants. But today we’re looking at techniques that can reveal the uni...2023-09-1451 minThe Science of BirdsSunbirds and SpiderhuntersThis is Episode 81. It’s all about birds in the family Nectariniidae. These are the sunbirds and the spiderhunters.If you live in or have gone birding in places like Africa, India, Southeast Asia, or Indonesia, you’re probably familiar with sunbirds. Consider yourself lucky.But if you have no idea what a sunbird or a spiderhunter is, or if you have only a vague idea, I’m excited to introduce you to this group of wonderful birds today.Links of InterestThese sunbirds keep singin' their song [VIDEO]2023-08-1739 minThe Science of BirdsEarthbound: How Birds Become FlightlessThis is Episode 80. It's all about flightless birds, and about the evolutionary processes that lead to flightlessness.Flightlessness in birds is, in my opinion, a fascinating scientific topic. And so here we are with this episode.Alive on the planet today, there are about 60 bird species that can’t fly. That’s only about 0.54 percent of the world’s approximately 11,000 species.It turns out there were way more flightless bird species out there before humans started exploring and colonizing every corner of the Earth. It wasn’t just the Dodo that was killed off by p...2023-08-0351 minThe Science of BirdsRed-tailed HawkThis is Episode 79. It's all about the Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis).This is one of North America’s most common raptors. We find these birds from sea to shining sea across the continent.The Redtail is a generalist predator. It can eat many kinds of prey and thrive in a broad range of habitats. Besides seeing these birds along the highway, you’re likely to spot a Red-tailed Hawk circling in the sky over a field, soaring or flapping slowly.In this episode, I cover the key traits of the Red-tailed Hawk, it's diet...2023-07-1847 minThe Science of BirdsParental Care: How Birds Raise Their YoungThis is Episode 78 and today we’re doing an overview of parental care in birds. How do birds raise their babies?Parent birds feeding their chicks in a nest is an iconic image. It’s a symbol of the spring and summer seasons and of the annual rejuvenation of nature.To the casual observer, birds generally come across as caring, attentive parents. Similar to the way mammals demonstrate good parenting behavior. We humans approve of this sort of thing. It makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside.I mean, the behavior of bird...2023-06-2243 minThe Science of BirdsSeabirdsThis is Episode 77. It's an overview of seabirds. Some might call them Oceanic birds or Marine Birds.How do we define what is or isn’t a sea bird?Well, it depends on who you ask. There’s no one definition, since “seabird” is an informal term, rather than a scientific one. It doesn’t correspond to a single taxonomic category, or to a single evolutionary lineage.Here’s what the authors of the book Oceanic Birds of the World have to say about it:“To our mind, true seabirds are birds of the o...2023-06-091h 03The Science of BirdsAnswers to Your Questions About Birds - Vol 3In this episode—which is Number 76—I’ll be answering some interesting questions sent to me by my listeners. Questions about birds, of course.The questions in today’s episode came from not just any old listeners, but from my supporters on Patreon. At the two higher tiers of support, one perk for my patrons is the chance to send me questions for these “Ask Me Anything” episodes. So if you’d like to ask your own question for a future episode, consider becoming a supporter of this show on Patreon.Support the show2023-05-1736 minThe Science of BirdsShrikesThis is Episode 75. It’s all about shrikes—birds in the family Laniidae.These are true songbirds—members of the avian suborder Passeri within the order Passeriformes—even though they act (and sort of look like) tiny falcons or hawks.Shrikes are sit and wait predators. They typically sit upright on an exposed, conspicuous perch and then wait for something tasty to come along. Some small animal, like a Vesper Sparrow, a rodent, lizard, grasshopper, and so on.Shrikes are such cool birds that they have many fans among ornithologists. In fact, there’s a subdis...2023-05-0842 minThe Science of BirdsWhere Does Bird's Nest Soup Come From?This episode—which is Number 74—is all about edible bird’s nests and Bird’s Nest Soup.Edible bird nests are a traditional delicacy in east Asia. Especially in China. For centuries, wealthy Chinese people have consumed edible bird nests. Usually in the form of bird’s nest soup.Throughout much of recent history, this dish has been one of the most expensive foods in the world.No wonder people have called edible bird nests the “caviar of the east,” or “white gold.”Perhaps the primary reason people spend ungodly amounts of money on bird’s...2023-04-1431 minThe Science of BirdsCranesThis is Episode 73. It’s all about birds in the avian family Gruidae… the cranes.These tall birds are charismatic and super interesting. It’s going to be fun to do a deep dive into all things crane today.Humans around the world have celebrated cranes for thousands of years, for their graceful beauty and their exuberant courtship dances. Across many cultures, cranes have inspired paintings, songs, dances, legends, martial arts, heavy construction machinery apparently, and the most iconic animal design in the fine art of origami.It’s spring in the North...2023-03-2652 minThe Science of BirdsHurricanes and Heatwaves: How Does Extreme Weather Affect Birds?This episode—which is Number 72—is about what happens to birds, not just in bad weather, but in really bad weather. We’re talking hurricanes, floods, droughts, heat waves, tornadoes, maybe even the occasional sharknado, and so on.How do birds deal with all these natural disasters? We’ll get into that.We'll be talking mostly about the more immediate effects of storms and other extreme weather on the survival of individual birds and their populations.Birds are tough little buggers. They’re tougher than they might look. Many of them live long lives in t...2023-03-1338 minThe Science of BirdsWhat's the Deal With Birds?This episode—which is Number 71—is about one particular scientific article. An article that’s near and dear to my heart.This study was published in 2020, in the Scientific Journal of Research and Reviews. You already know the title of the study itself. It’s the same as the title of this podcast episode… "What’s the Deal With Birds?"The study's author is Doctor Daniel T. Baldassarre. Listen to the episode to find out why I love this paper...Links of InterestLab Website of Dr. Daniel T. Baldassarre...2023-02-2311 minThe Science of BirdsGreat Blue HeronThis episode—which is Number 70—is all about the Great Blue Heron. The scientific name for the Great Blue Heron is Ardea herodias.This species is one of the most familiar large birds in North America. So it was inevitable that I’d make a podcast episode about it.The Great Blue Heron is a beautiful, fascinating, and ecologically important bird.Links of Interest‘Great Heron’ sculpture by artist Dixie Friend GayGreat Blue Heron: Nesting and Mating Behavior [VIDEO]Great Horned Owl attacks Great Blue Heron in Sapsucker Woods [VID...2023-02-1345 minThe Science of BirdsBird Bones: The Avian SkeletonThis episode—which is Number 69—is all about the avian skeleton. Bird bones.So this is an episode about some basic anatomy of birds.Bird bones and the avian skeleton are elegant, strong, and rigid. Let’s put on our x-ray goggles, and peer inside the body of a bird, to see what’s going on with all those beautiful bones...Links of InterestCranial kinesis in the skull of a Hyacinth Macaw [VIDEO]~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~...2023-01-3036 minThe Science of BirdsHornbillsToday’s episode is number 68. It’s all about the family of birds called Bucerotidae. These are the hornbills.Maybe you’ve heard about hornbills and know a few facts about them. Or maybe you’ve never even heard about these birds. Either way, I think you’ll enjoy today’s podcast episode. Hornbills are just so cool!The family Bucerotidae includes several dozen hornbill species. But there’s a second, much smaller avian family that contains birds we also call hornbills. The name of that family is Bucorvidae, the ‘ground-hornbills.’ There are only 2 species of ground-hornbill...2023-01-1650 minThe Science of BirdsAwesome Things We Learned About Birds in 2022This is Episode Number 67. It’s the last episode of 2022, so that means it’s the Annual Review!We’re going to look back at 2022, at some of the most interesting scientific studies of birds that were published this year. Will this be a painstakingly thorough review of everything that scientists learned about birds in 2022? No. Not so much. The studies I’m telling you about today—while they did make it into the newsfeed—are just the ones that I found most exciting. Or at least interesting. I decided they’re worth yapping about.2022-12-3143 minThe Science of Birds15 Simple (and Several Complicated) Ways You Can Help BirdsThis episode—which is Number 66—is all about the ways you can help birds. How you can make a difference in their conservation.It’s one thing to enjoy learning about birds in an objective, scientific way. They’re fascinating organisms.But does our interest in the biology of birds also come bundled with a care and concern for them? With warm and fuzzy feelings? I’d say heck yes, it does! For most of us, anyway, including yours truly.We want birds out there in the wide world to survive and thrive...2022-12-1521 minThe Science of BirdsWaxwingsThis is Episode 65, and it’s all about waxwings—birds in the family Bombycillidae. The Cedar Waxwing is one species, and there are two others that we’ll talk about.These beautiful, elegant songbirds are loved by people across the Northern Hemisphere.Waxwings are easy on the eyes, for sure, and that’s great. I mean, personally, I think they’re just about the most gorgeous songbirds we have in North America. But their biology is also really interesting. So much of how waxwings live and behave is dictated by what they eat…...2022-12-0443 minThe Science of BirdsBird Habitat: Temperate Grasslands and PrairiesThis episode—which is Number 64—is all about the importance of temperate grasslands as habitat for birds.When we say “temperate grasslands,” we mean those generally occurring in the middle latitudes.Temperate grasslands exist in several parts of the world. Some of them cover vast areas. Here in North America, we have the Great Plains as a “great” example.The steppes of Mongolia and the Pampas of South America are similarly vast temperate grasslands.Many, many bird species around the world depend on such grasslands for food and breeding habitat. Among them are rap...2022-11-2239 minThe Science of BirdsThe Common RavenThis episode—which is Number 63—is about the Common Raven, Corvus corax. This species is also known as the Northern Raven.Few bird species in the world are as geographically widespread as the Common Raven. And few are as familiar and iconic. This is a really amazing bird.Ornithologists and other scientists have studied ravens extensively, so we know quite a lot about this species.Today, we’ll look at the basic traits of the Common Raven as well as its behavior, habitats, diet, reproduction, and more.Links of Interest...2022-11-0749 minThe Science of BirdsBiogeographic Realms and Their Unique BirdsThis episode—which is Number 62—is all about the major geographic divisions among birds across the planet.Why are bowerbirds found only in Australia and on the islands of New Guinea? Why are the birds you see in India so different from those in China? Does North America have any unique, endemic bird families?Questions like these fall within the domain of biogeography. Biogeography is the study of where living things are found and why they’re found there—both in the present and the past. Today, we’ll be sketching out the big pictur...2022-10-1334 minThe Science of BirdsOstrichesThis is Episode 61, and it’s all about Ostriches. These are the birds in the avian family Struthionidae.Ostriches are among the most recognizable and charismatic birds. No living bird is bigger than an ostrich. If you’ve ever seen one up close, you know how impressive these giants can be. They’re amazing.So I’m excited to dig into their biology with you today. You probably know a thing or two about Ostriches already, but let’s see if we can get a deeper understanding of them. We’ll look at their basic traits, thei...2022-09-2938 minThe Science of BirdsFeeding Wild Birds: Pros and ConsThis episode—which is Number 60—is about Feeding Wild Birds. As in, humans providing supplemental food for wild birds.This typically involves a contraption called a birdfeeder. When you or I hang up a birdfeeder, we’re feeding wild birds intentionally. This intentional feeding is what today’s episode is about.Millions and millions of people all around the world feed wild birds intentionally. At such a massive scale, you have to imagine this would affect birds significantly, and in many ways. And it absolutely does.Which brings us to the big question: should w...2022-09-1547 minThe Science of BirdsAsk Me Anything About Birds - Aug 2022This episode—which is Number 59—is a bit different. Today, I’m going to be answering questions from my listeners. More specifically, these questions come from my supporters on Patreon. I have several “tiers” or “membership levels” on my Patreon page. Each level comes with perks. One perk for the “Helpful Hornbill” and “Awesome Osprey” tiers is getting to submit questions for episodes like this.So, today, we’ve got a fun grab-bag of questions to ponder.~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Links of InterestNo...2022-09-0145 minThe Science of BirdsWrens (Family: Troglodytidae)Today’s episode—which is Episode 58—is all about birds in the family Troglodytidae. These are the wrens.Wrens are small, perky songbirds, most of which are some shade of brown. All the species in this family of birds are found in the New World—In North, Central, and South America. All of them, that is, except for one species found in the Old World.In this episode, we'll cover many aspects of wren biology: their behavior, voices, diversity, evolution, conservation, and breeding.~~ Leave me a review using Podchase...2022-08-1844 minThe Science of BirdsFlocking Behavior in BirdsThis episode—which is Number 57— is all about the flocking behavior of birds.Birds of many species spend at least part of their yearly cycle hanging out in groups. This could be just a handful of individuals or it could be a gathering of millions of birds.Today, we’ll look at some explanations for why—as the saying goes—birds of a feather flock together. What benefits do birds get from forming groups like this?We’ll also look at how flocks work. As in, their mechanics. For example, how do birds communicate...2022-08-0730 minThe Science of BirdsHow Bird Feathers Get Their ColorsThis episode—which is Number 56— is all about the colors of birds.The diversity of color in bird plumages is one of the things we love most about these animals.But bird plumages are impressive not only when they display vibrant colors plucked from the rainbow. Thousands of species aren’t what we’d call colorful, but they do have gorgeous, intricately patterned feathers in combinations of black, brown, and white.Today, we’re looking at how feathers get their colors, from white to subtle earth tones to scintillating displays of wild iridescence.2022-07-2141 minThe Science of BirdsFlamingosThis is Episode 55. It’s all about birds in the avian family Phoenicopteridae. These are the flamingos.No doubt you already know a fun fact or two about flamingos. These birds are crowd pleasers that get a lot of attention. But today we’re doing a deep dive into their biology. I’m hoping that along the way, you’ll pick up some new flamingo trivia that you can impress your friends with.~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Links of InterestUnderw...2022-07-0845 minThe Science of BirdsEggs: Incredible and CommendableThis episode—which is Number 54—is all about bird eggs. This is an important topic. Eggs are a fundamental aspect of bird biology. Recently, in Episode 49 of the podcast, I covered the topic of nests. So it seems like a logical next step for us to get the lowdown on eggs.Oology is the science of studying bird eggs. So today, we are all honorary oologists. We’re egg-heads on a mission to better understand how baby birds come into the world.~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~...2022-06-2456 minThe Science of BirdsAvian FluThis episode—which is Number 53—is all about Avian Influenza. Or colloquially what we call the Avian Flu or Bird Flu.Depending on where you live, you might have noticed news headlines in recent months about the frightening spread of Avian Flu among both domestic and wild birds. I thought you might have some questions about this emerging disease, and so here we are with an entire podcast episode on the subject.~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Links of InterestCurrent U.S. Bird Flu Situ...2022-06-1234 minThe Science of BirdsGiant Birds: Go Big or Go HomeThis is Episode 52. Today, we’re talking about bird species that are way, way bigger than your average chickadee or finch.Our focus will be on evolutionary lineages that spawned some very large bird species. Species whose ancestors had been much smaller, millions of years earlier.We’ll look at a bunch of interesting giant birds throughout history. Then we’ll talk about some scientific explanations for why these critters got so big in the first place.~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Links of Int...2022-05-2628 minThe Science of BirdsThe Northern CardinalThis is Episode 51. Our bird of interest today is the Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis.This species is widespread across the eastern and southern US. It’s so well-known and loved that it’s the state bird for 7 states—more than any other species.Northern Cardinals are among the most abundant birds in North America. They’re familiar denizens of backyards that visit feeders all year long. So it shouldn’t be surprising to hear that ornithologists have done a lot of research on this abundant and conspicuous species.~~ Leave me a revie...2022-05-0632 minThe Science of BirdsFemale BirdsongThis episode—which is Number 50— is all about Female Birdsong. Songs are one of the things we love most about birds. They define the soundscapes of the natural world. Even though humans have been surrounded by singing birds for millions of years, we still have some misconceptions about birdsong. Today’s episode is about a misconception of sex differences in birds… Of who sings and who doesn’t.~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Links of InterestThe Forgotten Female: How a Generation of Women Scie...2022-04-1921 minThe Science of BirdsNests: Types, Construction, and ChallengesThis episode—which is Number 49—is all about bird nests. There are tons of fun facts fun facts here, since nests are one of the more impressive aspects of bird behavior and breeding biology.We’ll go over the functions of nests, the challenges that nesting birds face, nest site selection, the many types of nests, and nest construction.That’s a lot to cover, but I’ll try to keep this at more of an overview level. This is sort of Bird Nests 101.~~ Leave me a review using Podc...2022-04-0652 minThe Science of BirdsThe Pecking Order: Dominance Hierarchies in BirdsThis episode—which is Number 48—is about the “Pecking Order” in birds. Or, to use the more technical term, dominance hierarchy. Our focus will be on dominance hierarchies that we see among birds within a single species. White-crowned Sparrows beating up on other White-crowned Sparrows, for example, as opposed to White-crowned Sparrows beating up on another species, like Lincoln’s Sparrow. The latter would be an example of interspecies dominance. But today, we’re talking about intraspecies dominance. Meaning within species.~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Links of Interest2022-03-2527 minThe Science of BirdsGulls, Terns, and Skimmers (Family: Laridae)This is Episode 47. It’s all about birds in the family Laridae. This is an ancient evolutionary lineage that originated over 70 million years ago, when the world was still ruled by dinosaurs.Besides gulls and terns, the family Laridae also includes the skimmers and the noddies.~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Links of InterestShoplifting gull stealing Doritos.Link to this episode on the Science of Birds websiteSupport the sh...2022-03-1042 minThe Science of BirdsWallace's Line: Where Two Bird Worlds CollideThis episode—which is Number 46—is about a special place in the Malay Archipelago where two bird worlds collide. This region lies between Southeast Asia and Australia, between the Indian and Pacific oceans. And it’s crowded with about 25,000 islands, of all sizes.Specifically, we’ll be looking at a geographic feature called Wallace’s Line. More generally, today’s episode will touch on the topic of biogeography.~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Link to this episode on the Science of Birds websiteSupp...2022-02-1819 minThe Science of BirdsSolving Bird Mysteries with Forensic OrnithologyThis episode is all about forensic ornithology. This is a field where specialists use scientific techniques to identify bird species from trace evidence. Evidence like maybe a bit of feather, a bone fragment, or a smear of blood. Forensic ornithology is used to solve intriguing wildlife crimes like smuggling and illegal hunting. But it’s also helpful in other situations that don’t involve criminal activity. We’ll get into that side of things too.Like a murder mystery novel, today’s subject is, pretty much by definition, morbid. I’ll be talking a lot about dead...2022-02-1149 minThe Science of BirdsCoffee and Bird ConservationThis episode—which is Number 44—is about the relationship between coffee production and bird conservation. We'll get into how do different types of coffee cultivation affect birds, and the conservation benefits of Bird Friendly Coffee.~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Links of InterestSmithsonian Bird Friendly CoffeeBird Friendly Coffee [VIDEO]Coffee and ConservationLink to this episode on the Science of Birds websiteSupport the show2022-01-2018 minThe Science of BirdsThe Common LoonThis episode—which is Number 43—is all about the Common Loon, Gavia immer. People in Europe may know it as the Great Northern Diver.This bird is a symbol of the northern wilderness in North America. It’s closely associated with lakes and ponds in the boreal forests of the northern US and Canada.~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Links of InterestLoon scenes in the movie On Golden Pond [VIDEO]Why Hollywood Loves this creepy bird call [VIDEO]Loon Kills Bald Eag...2022-01-1338 minThe Science of BirdsAwesome Things We Learned About Birds in 20212021 is over, yo! So it's time for the Annual Review Episode! We’ll be looking back at some highlights of bird science in the year 2021. What fascinating things did ornithologists and other biologists discover about birds this year?I’ve picked 5 studies to highlight for you. These are stories that, in most cases, were interesting enough to make the news.~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Links of InterestVIDEO: A snoozing fox meets a plucky little black-crested titmouseVIDEO: Tapaculos Hunt...2021-12-3037 minThe Science of BirdsSwallows and MartinsThis episode is all about birds in the family Hirundinidae. These are the swallows and martins.Other than when they’re nesting, swallows are in the air almost all day long. This aerial lifestyle and that high-speed, erratic flight pattern can make it hard for us earthbound primates to get close looks at swallows. But these flappy little birds definitely deserve our attention. They have many charms and talents that—with a little patience—we can learn about and see for ourselves.~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~...2021-12-2348 minThe Science of BirdsFire and BirdsEcologists and ornithologists have been studying the effects of wildfire on bird populations all over the world. Their research has resulted in many fascinating discoveries about the relationships between fire and birds.Wildfires have been in the news a lot in recent years. In the western US where I live, enormous fires have been sweeping across California, Oregon, Idaho, and other states with increasing frequency and severity.And who can forget the 2019-2020 bushfire season in Australia, which came to be known as the “Black Summer?” Then there were the thousands of fires that broke out...2021-12-0749 minThe Science of BirdsAsk Me Anything About Birds - Nov 2021This is a special episode, and the first of its kind. I answer questions from my listeners. It’s a fun, mixed bag of bird factoids.Who were these lucky people who got to contribute to this episode? The specific listeners who submitted questions were my supporters on Patreon.Of course, the idea is that our discussion today will be interesting and informative to all of my listeners.This Q&A session covers things like bacterial diseases, bike helmets, lemon-scented juncos, and baby owls!~~ Leave me a...2021-11-1643 minThe Science of BirdsNew World VulturesThis episode is about the seven bird species in the family Cathartidae: the New World vultures and condors.This group includes species like the Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, and Andean Condor.Among these birds are some that people celebrate, or even revere. But others tend to get ignored, disparaged, or at worst, persecuted. I guess you could say our relationship with New World Vultures has been… complicated.~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Support the show2021-11-0351 minThe Science of BirdsHow Birds FlyBirds, probably more than any other aerial creatures, have amazed and inspired us with the grace and power of their flight. So just how do they do it?In this episode, we'll look at the physics and anatomy of bird flight.I’ll start off with the basics of aerodynamics as it relates to bird flight. That’s the meat and potatoes of our lesson today. But we’ll also consider the different ways that birds fly—their different modes of flight. Last, we’ll examine some additional adaptations birds have that make them high-octane flying mac...2021-10-2036 minThe Science of BirdsPenguinsThis episode is all about penguins. All penguins belong to the family Spheniscidae.Penguins are among the most bizarre and specialized birds in the world. Few other birds represent such a departure from what we think of as the standard avian model. The specializations of penguins—their adaptations—serve them very well for a life of diving deep into the ocean and of surviving in extreme cold.These birds are wonderful examples of how “life finds a way”—how animals can evolve into radically different forms, adapt to incredibly harsh conditions, and still manage to look prett...2021-09-2958 min
Just the Zoo of Us111: Common Loon w/ Ivan Phillipsen!Join Ellen & special guest, naturalist Ivan Phillipsen, for a review of the iconic common loon! In this episode, we discuss why they got stuck with such a rude name, how they’ve managed to master both water AND air, and the hidden meanings behind those ethereal (and slightly spooky) songs in the night.
Ivan's podcast, The Science of Birds, can be found wherever you get your podcasts. For more information, visit their website at https://www.scienceofbirds.com/
2021-09-2150 minThe Science of BirdsWetlands as Bird HabitatIn this episode, we’re going to look at wetlands as habitats for birds.We’ll start with how to recognize—how to define—a wetland ecosystem. Then, we’ll get into why these ecosystems are so important to birds. How do birds use wetlands as habitat? Next, I’ll highlight a few examples of bird species that depend on wetlands. Then we’ll talk about the conservation issues surrounding wetlands, and how their loss is affecting birds.~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Links of In...2021-09-1536 minThe Science of BirdsRoadrunnersThis episode is all about the bird species in the genus Geococcyx. There are only two: the Greater Roadrunner and the Lesser Roadrunner. People in North America have revered the Greater Roadrunner for thousands of years. This bird features prominently in Native American and Mexican legends and lore. It’s usually depicted in a good light. Roadrunners are bold, clever, and fast—all admirable characteristics. They’re also large and conspicuous birds, so it’s not surprising that more than one culture has paid them some special attention.Learn about the key traits of roadrun...2021-09-0132 minThe Science of BirdseBird and Citizen ScienceeBird is a digital archive of bird observations. It’s a database of observations from across the planet. eBird users connect to the database via the Internet, to both contribute data and access data.In this episode, we’ll start off by going over what exactly eBird is. Then, we’ll consider the characteristics of the scientific data that eBird users produce. How do scientists make sure that data is of the highest quality? We’ll get into that too, as well as some useful tools that have been created using eBird data. I’ll als...2021-08-2141 minThe Science of BirdsPigeons and DovesThis episode is all about birds in the family Columbidae. These are all the world’s many species of pigeons and doves.These birds are more exotic and interesting than many of us give them credit for. This is a widespread, diverse group that has been around for many millions of years. Pigeons and doves occupy many habitats across the planet, and they’ve colonized countless remote islands. Many of them are as richly colorful as parrots or songbirds.~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~~~ Become a patr...2021-07-3044 minThe Science of BirdsThe Birds of AlaskaAlaska is a truly amazing place that is still dominated by nature. It’s a wonderful region to explore for anyone who loves birds and charismatic megafauna. Many of Alaska’s vast natural areas are relatively intact. They offer endless opportunities for visitors to immerse themselves in raw nature.I recently returned from leading a birding tour in Alaska and I was inspired to make a podcast episode about the Birds of Alaska. We’ll first get a sense of Alaska’s geography, then we’ll consider the major ecosystems of the region, and then we’ll get i...2021-07-2035 minThe Science of BirdsThe ShoebillThe Shoebill is a tall, gray bird that appears more dinosaur-like than most members of the class Aves. You aren’t likely to confuse it with any other bird. It possesses a unique and impressive combination of size, color, and bill shape.The Shoebill is a top predator in certain kinds of swamps and wetlands in Africa. It terrorizes not only large fish, but other small aquatic animals, like amphibians and reptiles.This almost mythical beast of a bird is one of the most exciting species in all of Africa.This episode is al...2021-06-1027 minThe Science of BirdsArtificial Intelligence in Bird ResearchWe hear the terms ‘artificial intelligence’ and ‘AI’ all the time these days. Beyond the issue of evil robots taking over the world, AI technology is helping scientists do some pretty amazing things in the field of ornithology.In this episode, we’ll talk about what artificial intelligence is and give some interesting examples of how it’s being used to study birds.We’ll also touch on some tools that use artificial intelligence to help you in your quest to identify birds.~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~2021-05-2950 minThe Science of BirdsNew World WarblersNew World Warblers are all the birds in the family Parulidae. You’ll sometimes hear these birds referred to as ‘Wood-Warblers.’New World Warblers are among the most celebrated and sought after birds in North America. We love them here. They’re colorful, they’re energetic, and many of them have pleasant little songs.These birds have also been the subjects of many scientific studies over the years. Which is great, because it means there’s a lot that ornithologists know about the biology of these magnificent little creatures.{Special thanks to Sue Riffe for pe...2021-05-1256 minThe Science of BirdsMate Choice and Sexual Selection in BirdsThis episode is all about how birds choose their mates and the evolutionary outcomes of those choices.A lot of what we’re talking about today has to do with sexual selection, which is a special form of natural selection. In sexual selection, individuals compete for mates. This is when females and males choose their partners based on specific traits. Traits like plumage color or song, behavior, etc.This choosiness has resulted in some spectacular features in birds. Many of the things we love most about birds are...2021-04-2751 minThe Science of BirdsSandpipersBirds in the family Scolopacidae include all the world’s sandpipers and birds such as godwits, curlews, snipes, dowitchers, willets, stints, and more.We know these as familiar ‘shorebirds.’ They haunt coastal habitats from autumn through spring (Oct to Apr, or so). But in summer most of them migrate long distances to breed in the highest temperate latitudes or in the Arctic.Learn about sandpiper diversity, evolution, feeding, and more in this episode.~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Link to this episode on the...2021-04-1146 minThe Science of BirdsBird IntelligenceOur understanding of bird brains and intelligence has grown tremendously in the last couple decades.Thanks to countless scientific studies, we now know that many bird species are highly intelligent. Some of them perform better than primates, dogs, and young children on certain cognitive tests.In this episode, we look at how intelligence is defined and some evidence for it in birds. We have a look at the avian brain and consider how intelligence evolved in birds.Which birds are the smartest? Which birds are numbskulls? Have a listen and find out!2021-03-2847 minThe Science of BirdsVermilion FlycatcherThe Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) is a charming bird found in the arid southwest of the United States, as well as in Mexico and down to southern South America.This bright red flycatcher is a favorite of birders and bird photographers. Join Ivan as he introduces you to the basic features of this species. We’ll also take a look at some interesting questions, like “Why are the Vermilion Flycatchers of Lima, Peru so dark and sooty-looking?”Note: Some ornithological authorities have now split this species into several. Under this new classification, the birds f...2021-03-0719 minThe Science of BirdsCats vs BirdsJoin Ivan as he wades into the conservation quagmire surrounding house cats and their effects on wild birds.First, we’ll look at the status of house cat and feral cat populations around the world. How are all these free-ranging cats affecting our wild birds? Many scientific studies of this issue give us some answers. Research also provides guidance for how best to solve the problems that cats create for birds. Some approaches are more severe than others.We’ll also go over a few w...2021-02-2437 minThe Science of BirdsFinchesAll about the ‘true’ finches, the species belonging to the family Fringillidae. These small songbirds are found in many places around the world. Most of them specialize in eating seeds. Not every bird we commonly call ‘finch’ is a member of this family. And the family includes many birds that don’t have the word ‘finch’ in their common name. Confusing? Yes. We’ll try to clear some of this up for you.Learn about the key features of finches as well as their global distribution, evolution, feeding, and more.There’s lots of fun stuff...2021-02-0554 minThe Science of BirdsHow Birds Survive in WinterWinter can be a cold, dark time when food is scarce. Birds fight to stay alive during this season by using a variety of behavioral and physiological adaptations. Many of these are the same things you and I would do. But birds also have some amazing, unique adaptations to winter that we can only marvel at.Learn how birds generate heat and conserve it, and about the challenges they face in the cold season.~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Link to this episode on...2021-01-2439 minThe Science of BirdsKingfishersKingfishers—all the birds in the family Alcedinidae—are the focus of this episode. There are many species of these charismatic birds living across the world.Learn about their key features, global distribution, evolution, feeding, and more.~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~Links of InterestSlow-motion video of diving kingfisher 1Video of Pied Kingfisher huntingHow a kingfisher helped reshape Japan's bullet trainLink to this episode on the Science of Birds websiteSupport the show2021-01-1146 minThe Science of Birds5 Awesome Things We Learned About Birds in 2020Despite much of human civilization grinding to a halt in 2020, research on birds continued to be published in scientific journals.Through this research, we learned many new things about our avian friends. In this episode, let’s look at 5 interesting bird studies from 2020. If you want to learn more about them, check out the links below.~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~At the end of the episode, I share a little personal note. :) Happy New Year!A global analysis of song frequency in pa...2020-12-3133 minThe Science of BirdsDucks, Geese, and SwansThis episode focuses on the biological family Anatidae. This family includes the over 150 species of ducks, geese, and swans in the world. First, we highlight the key features shared by these birds, as well as some differences among them. We also discuss their diversity and distribution.We continue by examining the duck’s bill and the various things these birds eat.Breeding, migration, and conservation round out our look at this fascinating group of birds. Along the way, we goof around and have some fun.Links of Interest...2020-12-2047 minThe Science of BirdsBird Party: Mixed-Species FlocksSometimes birds of many feathers flock together. Mixed-species foraging flocks are seen in forests all across the world. Different combinations of species are found in each region.First, we talk about what mixed-species flocks look and act like. Then we get into the major scientific hypotheses for why these flocks exist at all.Link to this episode on the Science of Birds websiteSupport the show2020-12-1230 minThe Science of BirdsPeregrine FalconThis episode is all about the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), of the family Falconidae.Learn about this incredible bird's key features, its global diversity, feeding behavior, and more.Links of InterestShort video about Peregrine FalconsPeregrine Falcons under threat from systematic persecution, says RSPBLink to this episode on the Science of Birds websiteSupport the show2020-12-0535 minThe Science of BirdsWhat Is a Species, Really?The definition of ‘species’ isn’t as simple as you might think. In this episode, we look at the methods ornithologists use to identify and name bird species. And we discuss the challenges they face in this work.We begin by highlighting the reasons that scientists need to classify birds as species.Next, we get into several definitions of ‘species’ and the pros and cons of applying these.We then look at several case studies of birds to see how they’ve been classified.Link to this episode on the Scien...2020-11-2943 minThe Science of BirdsPelicansSummaryPelicans are large, peculiar waterbirds with a unique way of feeding. Using their long bills and throat pouches, they scoop up fish and other prey from water. Some pelican species plunge dive from the air, others work in cooperative groups to improve their chances of fishing success.In this episode, we focus on the family Pelecanidae. We go through the characteristics of pelicans, with a focus on their bill and throat pouch.We also discuss the feeding strategies of pelicans, how they breed, and their evolution.Finally, we touch...2020-11-1937 minThe Science of BirdsFeathers: Form and FunctionSummaryThe feather is one of the most iconic symbols of nature. Feathers are indispensable to birds, serving many critically important functions. In this episode, we explore those functions after looking closely at the anatomy—the structure—of a feather.We discuss the 6 types of feathers: contour feathers, flight feathers, down, semiplumes, bristles, and filoplumes.Some functions we explore are flight, insulation, and camouflage.Links of InterestHairs, feathers and scales have a lot in commonVideo about water repellency in bird feathersVideo of Club...2020-11-1237 minThe Science of BirdsBrood Parasites Are Devious BirdsSummaryBrood parasitism is a strange and fascinating behavior that we see (in one form or another) in several hundred bird species.This is where a female lays an egg in the nest of another bird. The parasite female flies away and never sees her offspring. The host bird or birds are fooled into raising the foreign chick as their own.Learn about which types of birds use this breeding strategy, including cuckoos and cowbirds.We’ll discuss the various tactics used by both the parasites and their hosts in...2020-11-0529 minThe Science of BirdsWoodpeckersSummaryLearn about the amazing birds in the family Picidae—the woodpeckers. These charismatic birds have a suite of adaptations that make them excellent at the job of excavating wood. In this episode, we first summarize the key features of woodpeckers.Then we’ll look at the evolution and modern-day diversity of the family.We discuss many of the special adaptations of woodpeckers, which they use as they go about their day, foraging.How woodpeckers breed and communicate and a bit about their conservation status round out the episo...2020-10-2936 minThe Science of BirdsHow Do Birds Sleep?SummaryWhen birds disappear at night, where do they go and what are they doing? Most of them are sleeping, of course. But sleep in birds differs greatly from what you and I do.In this episode, we discuss the most important functions of sleep in birds. Then we get into the evolution of sleep in birds.Along the way, we’ll talk about the similarities and differences of sleep between birds and mammals like us.Last, we cover where and how birds sleep, regarding location, posture, etc....2020-10-2228 minThe Science of BirdsThe Biggest Global Threats to BirdsSummaryBirds around the world are in trouble. Their populations have suffered major declines in the last 50 years.What does the latest research tell us about the causes of these declines? What are the biggest threats to our most vulnerable bird species?You can probably guess some of the answers, but you might be surprised by some of what you learn in this episode.We’ll cover the top five major threats in some detail.Links to Some Things Mentioned in this EpisodeBirdlife In...2020-10-1329 min