The Science of Birds

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites 31.05.2026 1h

👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts! ~~~ This is Episode 134. Ivan takes on one of the most iconic bird families in the avian world: Accipitridae—the hawks, eagles, kites, buzzards, harriers, and Old World Vultures. It's a massive and diverse group with no good nickname, though Ivan has a few suggestions. The episode covers the key traits that make these birds such formidable predators—from their hooked bills and locking talons to the bony "brow ridge" that gives them their si...

From the Field: Birding Romania 17.05.2026 40min

👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts! ~~~ In this From the Field episode Ivan takes listeners along on a two-week scouting trip to Romania where he explored the country's remarkable natural landscapes in preparation for a future birding tour. There's just one catch: his binoculars broke almost immediately after arriving. Despite that setback, Ivan racks up some lifers and shares highlights from two very different corners of the country. First, he heads to the Danube River Delta...

Random Bird Thursday: A Crepuscular Species That Is Not Actually Magical 30.04.2026 18min

In each Random Bird Thursday (RBT) episode, the goal is to highlight a bird species that probably isn't going to get featured in a full-length podcast episode. These are birds we might overlook, even though they certainly deserve some appreciation and attention. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ⚠️ SPOILER ALERT! The featured species in this episode is the Jungle Owlet (Glaucidium radiatum). Sound Citations: Dr S S Suresh, XC1102415. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/1102415 Swami Bogim, XC1037332. Acce...

Rivers & Streams as Bird Habitat 22.04.2026 1h 1min

👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts! ~~~ In Episode 132, Ivan Phillipsen explores the "circulatory system of the land"—the world of rivers and streams. These flowing-water environments, serve as vital habitats for avian life. The episode delves into the ecology of these waterways, breaking down the differences between clear, rocky upland streams and the warmer, sediment-rich rivers of the lowlands. Listeners will learn about the distinct "zones" of a stream—from the central ch...

Random Bird Thursday: A Trans-Andean Ant-Follower with a Complex Social Life 09.04.2026 26min

In each Random Bird Thursday (RBT) episode, the goal is to highlight a bird species that probably isn't going to get featured in a full-length podcast episode. These are birds we might overlook, even though they certainly deserve some appreciation and attention. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ⚠️ SPOILER ALERT! The featured species in this episode is the Bicolored Antbird (Gymnopithys bicolor). Sound Citations: Niels Krabbe, XC250916. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/250916. Johan Chaves, XC949385. A...

The Northern Flicker 05.04.2026 56min

👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts! ~~~ In Episode 131 of The Science of Birds, host Ivan Phillipsen takes a deep dive into one of North America's most familiar woodpeckers: the Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus). Found year-round across the continent, this bird has a habit of making itself known in some startling ways, including drumming loudly on rooftops at the crack of dawn. The episode describes the flicker's appearance, from its bold spotted plumage and signature whit...

Random Bird Thursday: A Colorful, Dumpy Bird That Chills With Chimps 26.03.2026 15min

In each Random Bird Thursday (RBT) episode, the goal is to highlight a bird species that probably isn't going to get featured in a full-length podcast episode. These are birds we might overlook, even though they certainly deserve some appreciation and attention. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ⚠️ SPOILER ALERT! The featured species in this episode is the Green-breasted Pitta (Pitta reichenowi). Sound Citations: Magnus Wadstein, XC534681. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/534681. Jesse Fagan, XC146919....

Vagrancy: Why Some Birds End Up Far From Home 17.03.2026 54min

👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts! ~~~ In this episode—which is number 130—Ivan Phillipsen explores the fascinating phenomenon of vagrancy... those surprising moments when birds appear far outside their normal range. Learn about the forces that send birds off course, including navigation errors, weather, social behavior, and more. The episode goes beyond the mystery of lost birds to ask a deeper question: are these wayward journeys simply mistakes, or can they shape the futur...

Random Bird Thursday: A Large Fat-eater from Patagonia 05.03.2026 25min

In each Random Bird Thursday (RBT) episode, the goal is to highlight a bird species that probably isn't going to get featured in a full-length podcast episode. These are birds we might overlook, even though they certainly deserve some appreciation and attention. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ⚠️ SPOILER ALERT! The featured species in this episode is the White-throated Treerunner (Pygarrhychus albogularis). White-throated Treerunner sounds (Xeno Canto recordings XC49939 and XC52238) Support the ...

Cuckoos 25.02.2026 1h 6min

👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts! ~~~ In this episode, host Ivan Phillipsen dives into the diverse and sometimes mysterious world of the avian family Cuculidae. While the family is famous for the iconic call of the Common Cuckoo and cultural icons like the Cocoa Puffs mascot, it also includes a wide array of other fascinating birds such as roadrunners, coucals, couas, anis, and malkohas. Learn about the unique biological traits and behaviors that define this cosmopolitan gr...

Random Bird Thursday: An Antisocial Bottom-Feeder from the Antipodes 29.01.2026 15min

In each Random Bird Thursday (RBT) episode, the goal is to highlight a bird species that probably isn't going to get featured in a full-length podcast episode. These are birds we might overlook, even though they certainly deserve some appreciation and attention. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ⚠️ SPOILER ALERT! The featured species in this episode is the Yellow-eyed Penguin (Megadyptes antipodes). Support the show

Avian Navigation: How Birds Find Their Way 18.01.2026 38min

👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts! ~~~ This is Episode 128. How does a bird travel thousands of miles across the globe only to return to the exact same backyard or nest site year after year? This episode explores the fascinating science behind avian navigation. Learn the difference between simple orientation and "true navigation," uncovering how birds reach specific destinations they have never even visited before. The discussion dives into the bird’s "map-and-compass" toolk...

Random Bird Thursday: A Fire-Loving Songbird Adorned with Black Oil Drops 08.01.2026 16min

In each Random Bird Thursday (RBT) episode, the goal is to highlight a bird species that probably isn't going to get featured in a full-length podcast episode. These are birds we might overlook, even though they certainly deserve some appreciation and attention. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ⚠️ SPOILER ALERT! The featured species in this episode is the Groundscraper Thrush (Turdus litsitsirupa) Groundscraper Thrush sounds: Wikimedia file and Xeno Canto recording XC347146) Support the show

What We Learned About Birds in 2025 03.01.2026 44min

👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts! ~~~ Episode 127 of The Science of Birds is Ivan Phillipsen’s annual review of fascinating ornithology stories from 2025. Learn about a handful of standout studies that deepened what we know about birds, from major developments in global bird taxonomy to surprising insights about behavior, evolution, and conservation. After a few featured deeper dives, the episode shifts into a rapid-fire “Speed Round,” spotlighting a flurry of bite-sized dis...

Random Bird Thursday: A Worm-slurping Mud-runner From Siberia 11.12.2025 22min

In each Random Bird Thursday (RBT) episode, the goal is to highlight a bird species that probably isn't going to get featured in a full-length podcast episode. These are birds we might overlook, even though they certainly deserve some appreciation and attention. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ⚠️ SPOILER ALERT! The featured species in this episode is the Asian Dowitcher (Limnodromus semipalmatus) Asian Dowitcher sounds (Xeno Canto recordings XC349045 and XC806613) Support the show

Herring Gulls 03.12.2025 46min

👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts! ~~~ In this episode—which is number 126—Ivan Phillipsen heads to the seashore to explore the iconic Herring Gulls whose calls define the soundscape of coasts across North America and Europe. Listeners meet not just one but two species: the American Herring Gull and the European Herring Gull, nearly identical in appearance but with a surprisingly twisty evolutionary backstory. Ivan breaks down what makes these gulls such compelling birds: the...

Random Bird Thursday: A Species with an Executioner’s Axe for a Face 27.11.2025 15min

In each Random Bird Thursday (RBT) episode, the goal is to highlight a bird species that probably isn't going to get featured in a full-length podcast episode. These are birds we might overlook, even though they certainly deserve some appreciation and attention. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ⚠️ SPOILER ALERT! The featured species in this episode is the White-thighed Hornbill (Bycanistes albotibialis) White-thighed Hornbill sounds (Xeno Canto recording XC617118) Support the show

How Birds Breathe: The Avian Respiratory System 18.11.2025 38min

👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts! ~~~ This is Episode 125. Host Ivan Phillipsen takes listeners inside the amazing respiratory system of birds. He starts by grounding the topic in familiar territory—how mammal lungs work—before revealing how different the avian system really is. The episode walks through the unique division of labor between birds’ small, rigid lungs and their large air sacs, and explains the elegant, one-way flow of air that keeps oxygen constantly moving a...

Random Bird Thursday: A Sparrow-sized Drummer from the Neotropics 06.11.2025 18min

In each Random Bird Thursday (RBT) episode, the goal is to highlight a bird species that probably isn't going to get featured in a full-length podcast episode. These are birds we might overlook, even though they certainly deserve some appreciation and attention. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ⚠️ SPOILER ALERT! The featured species in this episode is the Little Woodpecker (Veniliornis passerinus) Support the show

Mockingbirds and Thrashers 31.10.2025 59min

👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts! ~~~ This is Episode 124. Host Ivan Phillipsen takes you on a tour of Mimidae—the New World family that includes mockingbirds, thrashers, catbirds, and tremblers. He describes the key features of these songbirds and what sets them apart. Ivan explores the sounds that make this family famous: rich, extended songs, dazzling vocal control, and—for many species—impressive mimicry. You'll also learn about mimid diversity and evolution, from North ...