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PODCAST

The Science of Birds

Ivan Phillipsen

The Science of Birds is a lighthearted exploration of bird biology. It"s a fun resource for any birder or naturalist who wants to learn more about ornithology. Impress your birding friends at cocktail parties with all of your new bird knowledge! Hosted by Ivan Phillipsen, a professional birding guide and passionate naturalist with a PhD in Zoology.

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All Episodes

19:08

Vermilion Flycatcher

The Science of Birds ·

2021/03/07

The 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

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37:38

Cats vs Birds

The Science of Birds ·

2021/02/24

Join 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 ways that responsible

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54:22

Finches

The Science of Birds ·

2021/02/05

All 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

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39:47

How Birds Survive in Winter

The Science of Birds ·

2021/01/24

Winter 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 the Science of Birds

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46:17

Kingfishers

The Science of Birds ·

2021/01/10

Kingfishers—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 show

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33:16

5 Awesome Things We Learned About Birds in 2020

The Science of Birds ·

2020/12/31

Despite 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 passerines

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47:02

Ducks, Geese, and Swans

The Science of Birds ·

2020/12/20

This 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

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30:44

Bird Party: Mixed-Species Flocks

The Science of Birds ·

2020/12/12

Sometimes 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 show

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35:02

Peregrine Falcon

The Science of Birds ·

2020/12/05

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43:46

What Is a Species, Really?

The Science of Birds ·

2020/11/29

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

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37:40

Pelicans

The Science of Birds ·

2020/11/19

SummaryPelicans 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,

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37:03

Feathers: Form and Function

The Science of Birds ·

2020/11/12

SummaryThe 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

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29:42

Brood Parasites Are Devious Birds

The Science of Birds ·

2020/11/05

SummaryBrood 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

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36:53

Woodpeckers

The Science of Birds ·

2020/10/29

SummaryLearn 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

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28:38

How Do Birds Sleep?

The Science of Birds ·

2020/10/22

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.Links to Some Things

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29:55

The Biggest Global Threats to Birds

The Science of Birds ·

2020/10/13

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36:47

Hummingbirds

The Science of Birds ·

2020/09/22

Episode: 8SummaryThe remarkable behavioral and anatomical features of hummingbirds are what make them so endearing to us. The way they fly, their colors, and their penchant for flowers have all made hummingbirds rock stars of the avian world.In this episode, we focus entirely on the hummingbird family, Trochilidae. I’ll first give you an overview of hummingbird evolution. Then, we’ll discuss their present-day diversity and distribution.Then we dive into an assortment of fun topics about

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23:46

Vision in Birds

The Science of Birds ·

2020/09/22

Episode: 7SummaryIt can be argued that, of all the animals, birds are the best at seeing stuff. Most species have an excellent sense of sight.In this episode, I’ll first introduce you to the anatomy of a bird’s eye.Then, we’ll look into (see what I did there?) how birds perceive color and their visual acuity.And last we’ll talk about the difference between monocular and binocular vision in birds.Research CitationsWild hummingbirds and ultraviolet colors (Stoddard et al. 2020. PNAS)Seemingly

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19:31

Bird Songs - Part 2

The Science of Birds ·

2020/09/22

Episode: 6SummaryThis episode is Part 2 of 2 about Bird Songs. In the last episode, Part 1, we talked mostly about the “how” and the “who” of bird songs. We haven’t really talked about the “why,” the purpose of all these vocal sounds. This episode begins by looking at the functions of bird songs and calls.Then we get into variation in bird songs, at several levels, including among species and among geographic regions.You’ll also learn about some interesting subtopics like the dawn chorus and female

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21:42

Bird Songs - Part 1

The Science of Birds ·

2020/09/22

Episode: 5SummaryThis episode is Part 1 of 2 about Bird Songs. The voices of birds dominate nature’s soundscape. Bird songs and calls can be heard in almost every environment on the planet. In this episode, I’ll cover the characteristics of bird songs and how they are produced. We’ll also get into the question of whether bird songs are learned or instinctual.Research CitationsWillow and Alder flycatcher study proving their songs are innate (Kroodsma. 1984. The Auk)Links to Some Things Mentioned in

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144 results

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