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 pas...
Dec 31, 2020•33 min•Ep 19•Transcript available on Metacast 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 hav...
Dec 20, 2020•47 min•Ep 18•Transcript available on Metacast 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 website Support the show...
Dec 12, 2020•31 min•Ep 17•Transcript available on Metacast This episode is all about the Peregrine Falcon ( Falco peregrinus ), of the family Falconidae. Learn about this incredible bird's key features, its global diversity, feeding behavior, and more. Links of Interest Short video about Peregrine Falcons Peregrine Falcons under threat from systematic persecution, says RSPB Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Support the show...
Dec 05, 2020•35 min•Ep 16•Transcript available on Metacast 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 th...
Nov 29, 2020•44 min•Ep 15•Transcript available on Metacast Summary Pelicans 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 b...
Nov 19, 2020•38 min•Ep 14•Transcript available on Metacast Summary The 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 Interest Hairs, feathers and scales have a lot in comm...
Nov 12, 2020•37 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast Summary Brood 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...
Nov 05, 2020•30 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast Summary Learn 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 c...
Oct 29, 2020•37 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast Summary When 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 So...
Oct 22, 2020•29 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast Summary Birds around the world are in trouble. Their populations have suffered major declines in the last 50 years. What does the latest research tell us about the causes of these declines? What are the biggest threats to our most vulnerable bird species? You can probably guess some of the answers, but you might be surprised by some of what you learn in this episode. We’ll cover the top five major threats in some detail. Links to Some Things Mentioned in this Episode Birdlife International State...
Oct 13, 2020•30 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast Episode: 8 Summary The 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 humm...
Sep 22, 2020•37 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast Episode: 7 Summary It 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 Citations Wild hummingbirds and ultraviolet colors (Stoddard et al . 2020. PNAS) Seemi...
Sep 22, 2020•24 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast Episode: 6 Summary This 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...
Sep 22, 2020•20 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast Episode: 5 Summary This 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 Citations Willow and Alder flycatcher study proving their songs are innate (Kroodsma. 1984. The Auk ) Links to Some Things Ment...
Sep 22, 2020•22 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast Episode: 4 Summary The annual long-distance movements of birds are amazing feats of endurance and navigation. Learn about the various forms of migration and other annual movements in birds. We’ll cover many concepts related to migration, including timing and orientation, staging areas, and flyways. Research Citations The Beijing Cuckoo Project Links to Some Things Mentioned in this Episode Pfeilstorch Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Support the show...
Sep 22, 2020•32 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast Episode: 3 Summary Birds are an incredibly successful and diverse group of animals. In this episode, you’ll get an overview of the origin of avian species diversity and its present-day distribution across the planet. I offer some definitions of ‘biodiversity’ with respect to birds. We’ll discuss why this diversity is important. Links to Some Things Mentioned in this Episode Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World Research Citations Genetic research leading to the species split between the ...
Sep 22, 2020•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Episode: 2 Summary Learn about the ways that different bird species compete with each other over food and other resources. I first talk about the concept of the ecological niche, since this is so important to this episode's topic. Then, I get into the different forms of competition between bird species and present the possible outcomes of that competition. Lastly, I briefly touch on the general approaches that scientists take in studying interspecies competition in birds. Links to Some Thin...
Sep 22, 2020•23 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast Episode: 1 Summary Learn about the deep evolutionary origin of birds and follow their history up to the great extinction that happened 66 million years ago. First, I discuss what we mean when we say “bird.” What characteristics separate modern birds from other animal groups? Then I discuss the evidence—both historical and recent—that scientists have used to determine the evolutionary history of birds. Finally, we arrive at the answer of where birds fit on the tree of life. Research Citations Dis...
Sep 19, 2020•25 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast 
