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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

58:55

Cooperative Breeding in Birds

The Science of Birds ·

2025/02/01

In 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

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60:00

From the Field: Birding Nepal and Bhutan

The Science of Birds ·

2025/01/11

The 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 show

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51:12

From the Field: Birding in China

The Science of Birds ·

2024/12/26

Ivan 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 show

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51:35

From the Field: Birds and Birding in Vietnam and...

The Science of Birds ·

2024/12/02

Recorded 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 show

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31:54

From the Field: How My Life Became All About Birds

The Science of Birds ·

2024/11/14

From 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 show

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58:55

Mergansers

The Science of Birds ·

2024/10/17

This is Episode 105. It’s all about a small group of birds called mergansers. These are diving ducks known for their skill at catching fish. They have long, slender bills with serrated edges, earning them the nickname "sawbills." Maybe you’re familiar with these birds. Maybe you’re already a big fan. Or maybe you didn’t know they existed until just now. Either way, our goal today is to learn a lot more about Common Mergansers and their close relatives. There are five species that we call

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48:00

Bird Habitat: Rocky Shores and Sandy Beaches

The Science of Birds ·

2024/09/25

This episode—which is Number 104—is all about rocky shores and sandy beaches as bird habitat. These environments offer birds very different resources and challenges. We explore the geology behind these habitats—how high-energy waves shape rocky cliffs and headlands, while the deposition of sediment builds up sandy beaches. Alongside this, we discuss the dynamic interaction between birds and their coastal homes, and how species like gulls, shorebirds, and seabirds have adapted to thrive in these

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60:50

New World and African Parrots

The Science of Birds ·

2024/09/08

In this episode—which is Number 103—we enter the fascinating world of parrots, focusing on species in the family Psittacidae, which includes New World parrots and some African species. We look at key parrot traits like their zygodactyl feet, strong beaks, plumage, and vocalizations.We'll also learn about the remarkable intelligence and social behaviors of parrots, their diversity, and their evolutionary history, tracing their origins back to Gondwana and their eventual spread to South America

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51:00

The Common Kingfisher

The Science of Birds ·

2024/08/21

In this episode—which is Number 102—we dive into the fascinating world of the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), a small but mighty bird known for its striking blue and orange plumage and remarkable fish-hunting skills. We'll look at this species' behavior, from its iconic plunges into water to catch prey, to how it breeds, including courtship rituals, nest-building, and the challenges of raising chicks.Learn about the kingfisher's diet and foraging strategies, including how it deals

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39:26

The Evolution of Feathers

The Science of Birds ·

2024/08/01

This is Episode 101. Today, we trace the origins of feathers back millions of years, exploring how they evolved from simple filaments to the complex structures we see in modern birds. We delve into the discovery of feathered dinosaurs like Archaeopteryx and the numerous fossil finds in northeastern China during the 1990s. These discoveries revealed that many non-avian dinosaurs sported feathers of various types and complexities, indicating that feathers were not unique to birds but were a common

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29:44

100th Episode Celebration!

The Science of Birds ·

2024/07/18

Welcome to the 100th episode of The Science of Birds Podcast! I'm thrilled to celebrate this milestone with you. In this special episode, I reflect on the journey of creating this podcast, sharing some insights and gratitude for all of you, my listeners.I also highlight three of my favorite bird species: the vibrant Green Jay, the Torrent Duck, and Egyptian Vulture.Looking ahead, I'm excited to share my plans for the future of The Science of Birds. Thank you for being part of this journey,

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63:31

Cormorants and Shags

The Science of Birds ·

2024/07/03

In this episode—which is Number 99—we dive into the fascinating world of cormorants and shags, members of the avian family Phalacrocoracidae. These sleek, hook-billed birds are known for their distinctive silhouettes, often seen drying their wings on seaside cliffs or wetland trees. Cormorants and shags have a long history of varied human interactions, from being vilified and hunted to being revered and even trained to catch fish.These birds are exceptional divers, utilizing their streamlined bodies

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50:35

Bird Brains

The Science of Birds ·

2024/06/18

This episode—which is Number 98—delves into the fascinating world of the avian brain. Despite the long-standing misconception that "bird brain" equates to being unintelligent, recent scientific research reveals that birds possess remarkably sophisticated brains, rivaling the intelligence of primates and even humans in some respects. By tracing the evolutionary paths of both mammals and birds from a common ancestor, I explain how birds have developed unique brain structures that enable

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54:18

Bluebirds

The Science of Birds ·

2024/06/03

This is Episode 97. It’s all about bluebirds: the three North American species in the genus Sialia: The Eastern Bluebird, Western Bluebird, and Mountain Bluebird.For centuries, these beloved birds have been celebrated in paintings, poems, songs, and Disney cartoons. The Eastern Bluebird is the state bird of Missouri and New York, while the Mountain Bluebird is the state bird of Idaho and Nevada.And, apparently, the Mountain Bluebird was the inspiration for the original Twitter logo.But bluebirds

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58:50

Answers to Your Questions About Birds - AMA - Vol 4

The Science of Birds ·

2024/05/15

In this episode—which is Number 96—I’ll be answering questions sent by my listeners. So this is what we call an “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode. I enjoy doing these, and it’s so interesting to see what sorts of questions people have about birds.The listeners who get to contribute questions for these Ask Me Anything episodes are members of my community on Patreon. There are several tiers of support that people can join, and at the Helpful Hornbill and Awesome Osprey level, one perks is getting to ask

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40:16

Spoonbills

The Science of Birds ·

2024/04/30

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33:34

The Avian Digestive System

The Science of Birds ·

2024/04/10

This episode—which is Number 94— is all about the Avian Digestive System. That’s right, kids, we’re looking at bird guts today!If you’ve ever wondered what happens to a fish swallowed by a kingfisher or what happened to that piece of bacon swiped off your lunch plate by a cheeky Ring-billed Gull... Well, you're about to find out.I’ll do my best to describe in words the anatomical features we encounter today. But I’ve also drawn a diagram for you. You can check that out on the show notes for

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49:45

House Sparrow

The Science of Birds ·

2024/03/21

This episode—which is number 93—is all about the the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), one of the world’s best known and most abundant birds. It expanded across the planet along with humans over the last 10,000 years, with the spread of agriculture. Today, this plucky little bird is a model organism for the study of basic bird biology. Over 7,000 scientific studies of the House Sparrow have been published. In this episode, we’ll get into what this species looks and sounds like, where it lives, its

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64:56

Bird Habitat: Deserts

The Science of Birds ·

2024/02/29

This episode—which is Number 92—is all about the value of desert ecosystems as habitats for birds.Deserts are important for the birds that are adapted to live in them—birds that can handle the harsh conditions. Deserts are home to relatively few bird species. Only the polar regions and maybe some parts of the open ocean have less bird diversity.Even if a bird species can handle the extremes of heat and cold in a desert, the desiccating winds, and the lack of water, that bird may not find much food

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65:19

Chickadees, Tits, and Titmice

The Science of Birds ·

2024/02/15

This is Episode 91. It’s all about birds in the family Paridae. These are the chickadees, tits, and titmice—cute little forest-dwelling songbirds known and loved by many people around the world.I’ve had a lot of requests to make a podcast episode about chickadees and their kind. Some species in this family are familiar visitors to backyard bird feeders. They’re highly active, vocal, bold, and sometimes quite confiding with people. It’s possible to gain the trust of tits and chickadees of some

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130 results

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