The Science of Birds

Episódios

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  Random Bird Thursday: A Highly Vocal Species With Female Helpers 03.09.2026 31min

  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 Magpie-Jay (Cyanocorax formosus). Sound Citations: Isain Contreras Rodríguez, XC530762. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/530762. Guil...
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  Grebes 30.08.2026 1h

  👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts! ~~~ Enter the murky aquatic realm of the family Podicipedidae in Episode 137 of the The Science of Birds podcast. Often mistaken for ducks, loons, or coots, grebes are unique, fascinating waterbirds with some bizarre physical traits and behaviors. The episode covers everything from the specialized lobed toes of grebes and rear-positioned legs to their spectacular, highly synchronized courtship dances. Discover the unexpected identity of gre...
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  Random Bird Thursday: A Citrus-themed Species with Runny Mascara 13.08.2026 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 Orange-headed Thrush (Geokichla citrina). Sound Citations: Chuenguey Hwang, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3dXua_kD20 Support the show
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  From the Field: Australia 08.08.2026 48min

  👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts! ~~~ In this "from the field" episode of The Science of Birds, Ivan Phillipsen takes you on a journey through some iconic landscapes in Australia. Fulfilling a childhood fascination with the Outback, Ivan splits his two-week adventure between the arid, rust-red deserts of the Northern Territory's Red Centre and the lush, ancient tropical rainforests of Queensland. Along the way, he shares the excitement of racking up some "lifers" while enco...
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  Random Bird Thursday: A Duet-singer That Uses Bones for Decoration 16.07.2026 12min

  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 Rufous Cacholote (Pseudoseisura unirufa). Sound Citations: Sjoerd Mayer, XC3496. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/3496. Support the show
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  Random Bird Thursday: A Tiny Island Dweller That Likes Vines 02.07.2026 10min

  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 Rufous-sided Gerygone (Gerygone dorsalis). Sound Citations: Colin Trainor, XC138529. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/138529. Support the show
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  Red-winged Blackbird 21.06.2026 53min

  👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts! ~~~ Episode 135 takes on one of North America's most recognizable birds: the Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus. With a population possibly approaching 200 million, this species is a fixture of wetlands and marshes across the continent, and one of the most intensively studied birds in ornithology. Ivan explores the biology and behavior that make this bird so compelling: its striking sexual dimorphism, the surprisingly complex story b...
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  Random Bird Thursday: An Alien-Eyed Mountaineer That Sounds Like a Jet 11.06.2026 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 Jameson's Snipe (Gallinago jamesoni). Sound Citations: Niels Krabbe, XC238296. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/238296. Niels Krabbe, XC47237. Accessibl...
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  Hawks, Eagles, and Kites 31.05.2026 59min

  👕 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...
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  From the Field: Birding Romania 17.05.2026 39min

  👕 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...
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  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...
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  Rivers & Streams as Bird Habitat 22.04.2026 59min

  👕 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...
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  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...
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  The Northern Flicker 05.04.2026 54min

  👕 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...
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  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....
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  Vagrancy: Why Some Birds End Up Far From Home 17.03.2026 52min

  👕 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...
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  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 ...
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  Cuckoos 25.02.2026 1h 4min

  👕 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...
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  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
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  Avian Navigation: How Birds Find Their Way 18.01.2026 37min

  👕 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...