This episode—which is Number 49—is all about bird nests. There are tons of fun facts fun facts here, since nests are one of the more impressive aspects of bird behavior and breeding biology. We’ll go over the functions of nests, the challenges that nesting birds face, nest site selection, the many types of nests, and nest construction. That’s a lot to cover, but I’ll try to keep this at more of an overview level. This is sort of Bird Nests 101 . ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~ Links of I...
Apr 06, 2022•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast This episode—which is Number 48—is about the “Pecking Order” in birds. Or, to use the more technical term, dominance hierarchy . Our focus will be on dominance hierarchies that we see among birds within a single species . White-crowned Sparrows beating up on other White-crowned Sparrows, for example, as opposed to White-crowned Sparrows beating up on another species, like Lincoln’s Sparrow. The latter would be an example of inter species dominance. But today, we’re talking about intra species do...
Mar 25, 2022•27 min•Ep 48•Transcript available on Metacast This is Episode 47. It’s all about birds in the family Laridae. This is an ancient evolutionary lineage that originated over 70 million years ago, when the world was still ruled by dinosaurs. Besides gulls and terns, the family Laridae also includes the skimmers and the noddies. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~ Links of Interest Shoplifting gull stealing Doritos . Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Support the show...
Mar 10, 2022•42 min•Ep 47•Transcript available on Metacast This episode—which is Number 46—is about a special place in the Malay Archipelago where two bird worlds collide. This region lies between Southeast Asia and Australia, between the Indian and Pacific oceans. And it’s crowded with about 25,000 islands, of all sizes. Specifically, we’ll be looking at a geographic feature called Wallace’s Line . More generally, today’s episode will touch on the topic of biogeography. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~ Link to this episode on the Science of Bird...
Feb 18, 2022•19 min•Ep 46•Transcript available on Metacast This episode is all about forensic ornithology . This is a field where specialists use scientific techniques to identify bird species from trace evidence. Evidence like maybe a bit of feather, a bone fragment, or a smear of blood. Forensic ornithology is used to solve intriguing wildlife crimes like smuggling and illegal hunting. But it’s also helpful in other situations that don’t involve criminal activity. We’ll get into that side of things too. Like a murder mystery novel, today’s subject is,...
Feb 11, 2022•49 min•Ep 45•Transcript available on Metacast This episode—which is Number 44—is about the relationship between coffee production and bird conservation. We'll get into how do different types of coffee cultivation affect birds, and the conservation benefits of Bird Friendly Coffee. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~ Links of Interest Smithsonian Bird Friendly Coffee Bird Friendly Coffee [VIDEO] Coffee and Conservation Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Support the show...
Jan 20, 2022•19 min•Ep 44•Transcript available on Metacast This episode—which is Number 43—is all about the Common Loon, Gavia immer . People in Europe may know it as the Great Northern Diver. This bird is a symbol of the northern wilderness in North America. It’s closely associated with lakes and ponds in the boreal forests of the northern US and Canada. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~ Links of Interest Loon scenes in the movie On Golden Pond [VIDEO] Why Hollywood Loves this creepy bird call [VIDEO] Loon Kills Bald Eagle Animation of Common L...
Jan 13, 2022•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast 2021 is over , yo! So it's time for the Annual Review Episode! We’ll be looking back at some highlights of bird science in the year 2021. What fascinating things did ornithologists and other biologists discover about birds this year? I’ve picked 5 studies to highlight for you. These are stories that, in most cases, were interesting enough to make the news. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~ Links of Interest VIDEO: A snoozing fox meets a plucky little black-crested titmouse VIDEO: Tapa...
Dec 30, 2021•38 min•Ep 42•Transcript available on Metacast This episode is all about birds in the family Hirundinidae. These are the swallows and martins. Other than when they’re nesting, swallows are in the air almost all day long. This aerial lifestyle and that high-speed, erratic flight pattern can make it hard for us earthbound primates to get close looks at swallows. But these flappy little birds definitely deserve our attention. They have many charms and talents that—with a little patience—we can learn about and see for ourselves. ~~ Leave me a re...
Dec 23, 2021•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ecologists and ornithologists have been studying the effects of wildfire on bird populations all over the world. Their research has resulted in many fascinating discoveries about the relationships between fire and birds. Wildfires have been in the news a lot in recent years. In the western US where I live, enormous fires have been sweeping across California, Oregon, Idaho, and other states with increasing frequency and severity. And who can forget the 2019-2020 bushfire season in Australia, whic...
Dec 07, 2021•49 min•Ep 40•Transcript available on Metacast This is a special episode, and the first of its kind. I answer questions from my listeners. It’s a fun, mixed bag of bird factoids. Who were these lucky people who got to contribute to this episode? The specific listeners who submitted questions were my supporters on Patreon. Of course, the idea is that our discussion today will be interesting and informative to all of my listeners. This Q&A session covers things like bacterial diseases, bike helmets, lemon-scented juncos, and baby owls! ~~ ...
Nov 16, 2021•43 min•Ep 39•Transcript available on Metacast This episode is about the seven bird species in the family Cathartidae: the New World vultures and condors. This group includes species like the Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, and Andean Condor. Among these birds are some that people celebrate, or even revere. But others tend to get ignored, disparaged, or at worst, persecuted. I guess you could say our relationship with New World Vultures has been… complicated. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~ Support the show...
Nov 03, 2021•51 min•Ep 38•Transcript available on Metacast Birds, probably more than any other aerial creatures, have amazed and inspired us with the grace and power of their flight. So just how do they do it? In this episode, we'll look at the physics and anatomy of bird flight. I’ll start off with the basics of aerodynamics as it relates to bird flight. That’s the meat and potatoes of our lesson today. But we’ll also consider the different ways that birds fly—their different modes of flight. Last, we’ll examine some additional adaptations birds h...
Oct 20, 2021•36 min•Ep 37•Transcript available on Metacast This episode is all about penguins. All penguins belong to the family Spheniscidae. Penguins are among the most bizarre and specialized birds in the world. Few other birds represent such a departure from what we think of as the standard avian model. The specializations of penguins—their adaptations—serve them very well for a life of diving deep into the ocean and of surviving in extreme cold. These birds are wonderful examples of how “life finds a way”—how animals can evolve into radically diffe...
Sep 29, 2021•58 min•Ep 36•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, we’re going to look at wetlands as habitats for birds. We’ll start with how to recognize—how to define—a wetland ecosystem. Then, we’ll get into why these ecosystems are so important to birds. How do birds use wetlands as habitat? Next, I’ll highlight a few examples of bird species that depend on wetlands. Then we’ll talk about the conservation issues surrounding wetlands, and how their loss is affecting birds. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~ Links of Interest Wetlands...
Sep 15, 2021•36 min•Ep 35•Transcript available on Metacast This episode is all about the bird species in the genus Geococcyx . There are only two: the Greater Roadrunner and the Lesser Roadrunner. People in North America have revered the Greater Roadrunner for thousands of years. This bird features prominently in Native American and Mexican legends and lore. It’s usually depicted in a good light. Roadrunners are bold, clever, and fast—all admirable characteristics. They’re also large and conspicuous birds, so it’s not surprising that more than one cultu...
Sep 01, 2021•33 min•Ep 34•Transcript available on Metacast eBird is a digital archive of bird observations. It’s a database of observations from across the planet. eBird users connect to the database via the Internet, to both contribute data and access data. In this episode, we’ll start off by going over what exactly eBird is. Then, we’ll consider the characteristics of the scientific data that eBird users produce. How do scientists make sure that data is of the highest quality? We’ll get into that too, as well as some useful tools that have been create...
Aug 21, 2021•42 min•Ep 33•Transcript available on Metacast This episode is all about birds in the family Columbidae. These are all the world’s many species of pigeons and doves. These birds are more exotic and interesting than many of us give them credit for. This is a widespread, diverse group that has been around for many millions of years. Pigeons and doves occupy many habitats across the planet, and they’ve colonized countless remote islands. Many of them are as richly colorful as parrots or songbirds. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~ ~~ Beco...
Jul 30, 2021•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Alaska is a truly amazing place that is still dominated by nature. It’s a wonderful region to explore for anyone who loves birds and charismatic megafauna. Many of Alaska’s vast natural areas are relatively intact. They offer endless opportunities for visitors to immerse themselves in raw nature. I recently returned from leading a birding tour in Alaska and I was inspired to make a podcast episode about the Birds of Alaska. We’ll first get a sense of Alaska’s geography, then we’ll consider the m...
Jul 20, 2021•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Shoebill is a tall, gray bird that appears more dinosaur-like than most members of the class Aves. You aren’t likely to confuse it with any other bird. It possesses a unique and impressive combination of size, color, and bill shape. The Shoebill is a top predator in certain kinds of swamps and wetlands in Africa. It terrorizes not only large fish, but other small aquatic animals, like amphibians and reptiles. This almost mythical beast of a bird is one of the most exciting species in all of ...
Jun 10, 2021•28 min•Ep 30•Transcript available on Metacast We hear the terms ‘artificial intelligence’ and ‘AI’ all the time these days. Beyond the issue of evil robots taking over the world, AI technology is helping scientists do some pretty amazing things in the field of ornithology. In this episode, we’ll talk about what artificial intelligence is and give some interesting examples of how it’s being used to study birds. We’ll also touch on some tools that use artificial intelligence to help you in your quest to identify birds. ~~ Leave me a review us...
May 28, 2021•51 min•Ep 29•Transcript available on Metacast New World Warblers are all the birds in the family Parulidae. You’ll sometimes hear these birds referred to as ‘Wood-Warblers.’ New World Warblers are among the most celebrated and sought after birds in North America. We love them here. They’re colorful, they’re energetic, and many of them have pleasant little songs. These birds have also been the subjects of many scientific studies over the years. Which is great, because it means there’s a lot that ornithologists know about the biology of these...
May 12, 2021•57 min•Ep 28•Transcript available on Metacast This episode is all about how birds choose their mates and the evolutionary outcomes of those choices. A lot of what we’re talking about today has to do with sexual selection , which is a special form of natural selection. In sexual selection, individuals compete for mates. This is when females and males choose their partners based on specific traits. Traits like plumage color or song, behavior, etc. This choosiness has resulted in some spectacular features in birds. Many of the things we love m...
Apr 27, 2021•51 min•Ep 27•Transcript available on Metacast Birds in the family Scolopacidae include all the world’s sandpipers and birds such as godwits, curlews, snipes, dowitchers, willets, stints, and more. We know these as familiar ‘shorebirds.’ They haunt coastal habitats from autumn through spring (Oct to Apr, or so). But in summer most of them migrate long distances to breed in the highest temperate latitudes or in the Arctic. Learn about sandpiper diversity, evolution, feeding, and more in this episode. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~ Li...
Apr 11, 2021•46 min•Ep 26•Transcript available on Metacast Our understanding of bird brains and intelligence has grown tremendously in the last couple decades. Thanks to countless scientific studies, we now know that many bird species are highly intelligent. Some of them perform better than primates, dogs, and young children on certain cognitive tests. In this episode, we look at how intelligence is defined and some evidence for it in birds. We have a look at the avian brain and consider how intelligence evolved in birds. Which birds are the smartest? W...
Mar 28, 2021•47 min•Ep 25•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Mar 07, 2021•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 respo...
Feb 24, 2021•38 min•Ep 23•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Feb 05, 2021•54 min•Ep 22•Transcript available on Metacast 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 websit...
Jan 24, 2021•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Interest Slow-motion video of diving kingfisher 1 Video of Pied Kingfisher hunting How a kingfisher helped reshape Japan's bullet train Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website Support the show...
Jan 10, 2021•46 min•Ep 20•Transcript available on Metacast 
