The Science of Birds
A lighthearted exploration of bird biology, hosted by a professional birding guide with a PhD in Zoology. Learn about the fascinating world of birds and pick up some ornithology facts along the way.
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Recent episodes
Sep 3, 2026 · 32 minRandom Bird Thursday: A Highly Vocal Species With Female HelpersIvan profiles the White-throated Magpie-Jay, a loud Central American bird with an unusual cooperative breeding system in which female helpers assist in raising the young.Aug 30, 2026 · 1h 0mGrebesEpisode 137 dives into the family Podicipedidae: the lobed toes and rear-set legs, the synchronized courtship dances, the surprising identity of grebes' closest relativesAug 13, 2026 · 18 minRandom Bird Thursday: A Citrus-themed Species with Runny MascaraA short spotlight on the Orange-headed Thrush, an Asian songbird with striking facial markings and colorful plumage.Aug 8, 2026 · 49 minFrom the Field: AustraliaIvan shares stories from guiding a birding trip across Australia, from Outback deserts to tropical rainforest, and previews a future expedition.Jul 16, 2026 · 12 minRandom Bird Thursday: A Duet-singer That Uses Bones for DecorationThe Rufous Cacholote, a South American ovenbird known for singing duets and decorating its nest with bones.Jul 2, 2026 · 10 minRandom Bird Thursday: A Tiny Island Dweller That Likes VinesThe Rufous-sided Gerygone, a tiny island songbird with specialized foraging habits among vines.Jun 21, 2026 · 54 minRed-winged Blackbird👕 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. WitJun 11, 2026 · 15 minRandom Bird Thursday: An Alien-Eyed Mountaineer That Sounds Like a JetIn 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 Jun 1, 2026 · 59 minHawks, Eagles, and Kites👕 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, eagMay 17, 2026 · 39 minFrom the Field: Birding Romania👕 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 Apr 30, 2026 · 19 minRandom Bird Thursday: A Crepuscular Species That Is Not Actually MagicalIn 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 Apr 22, 2026 · 1h 0mRivers & Streams as Bird Habitat👕 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 flApr 9, 2026 · 26 minRandom Bird Thursday: A Trans-Andean Ant-Follower with a Complex Social LifeIn 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 Apr 5, 2026 · 55 minThe Northern Flicker👕 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 familiaMar 26, 2026 · 15 minRandom Bird Thursday: A Colorful, Dumpy Bird That Chills With ChimpsIn 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 Mar 17, 2026 · 53 minVagrancy: Why Some Birds End Up Far From Home👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts! ~~~ In this episode—which is number 130—Ivan Phillipsen explores the fascinating phenomenon of vagrancy... those surprisingMar 5, 2026 · 26 minRandom Bird Thursday: A Large Fat-eater from PatagoniaIn 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 Feb 25, 2026 · 1h 4mCuckoos👕 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 CuculidJan 29, 2026 · 16 minRandom Bird Thursday: An Antisocial Bottom-Feeder from the AntipodesIn 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 Jan 18, 2026 · 37 minAvian Navigation: How Birds Find Their Way👕 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 backyaJan 8, 2026 · 16 minRandom Bird Thursday: A Fire-Loving Songbird Adorned with Black Oil DropsIn 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 Jan 3, 2026 · 43 minWhat We Learned About Birds in 2025👕 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. LeDec 12, 2025 · 22 minRandom Bird Thursday: A Worm-slurping Mud-runner From SiberiaIn 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 Dec 4, 2025 · 45 minHerring Gulls👕 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 calNov 28, 2025 · 15 minRandom Bird Thursday: A Species with an Executioner’s Axe for a FaceIn 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
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