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161 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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Ostriches
29 september 2022 · 39 min
This is Episode 61, and it’s all about Ostriches. These are the birds in the avian family Struthionidae. Lees meer
Ostriches are among the most recognizable and charismatic birds. No living bird is bigger than an ostrich. If you’ve ever seen one up close, you know how impressive these giants can be. They’re amazing.
So I’m excited to dig into their biology with you today. You probably know a thing or two about Ostriches already, but let’s see if we can get a deeper understanding of them. We’ll look at their basic traits, their distribution, habitat, diet, and more.
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Links of Interest
Cyclists chased by an ostrich [VIDEO]
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Feeding Wild Birds: Pros and Cons
15 september 2022 · 49 min
This episode—which is Number 60—is about Feeding Wild Birds. As in, humans providing supplemental food for wild birds. Lees meer
This typically involves a contraption called a birdfeeder. When you or I hang up a birdfeeder, we’re feeding wild birds intentionally. This intentional feeding is what today’s episode is about.
Millions and millions of people all around the world feed wild birds intentionally. At such a massive scale, you have to imagine this would affect birds significantly, and in many ways. And it absolutely does.
Which brings us to the big question: should we or shouldn’t we feed wild birds? This is still being debated. By scientists, conservation organizations, and bird lovers everywhere.
Today, I’ll do my best to give you objective, scientific information about feeding birds. We’ll look at the pros and cons. Then, we’ll see if there’s any sort of conclusion we can come to at the end of the episode.
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Links of Interest
Analysis: Do Bird Feeders Help Or Hurt Birds?
Birds not dependent on feeders, study suggests
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Ask Me Anything About Birds - Aug 2022
1 september 2022 · 47 min
This episode—which is Number 59—is a bit different. Today, I’m going to be answering questions from my listeners. More specifically, these questions come from my supporters on Patreon. Lees meer
I have several “tiers” or “membership levels” on my Patreon page. Each level comes with perks. One perk for the “Helpful Hornbill” and “Awesome Osprey” tiers is getting to submit questions for episodes like this.
So, today, we’ve got a fun grab-bag of questions to ponder.
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Links of Interest
Northern Mockingbird Wing Flashing Behavior [VIDEO]
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Wrens (Family: Troglodytidae)
18 augustus 2022 · 45 min
Today’s episode—which is Episode 58—is all about birds in the family Troglodytidae. These are the wrens. Lees meer
Wrens are small, perky songbirds, most of which are some shade of brown.
All the species in this family of birds are found in the New World—In North, Central, and South America. All of them, that is, except for one species found in the Old World.
In this episode, we'll cover many aspects of wren biology: their behavior, voices, diversity, evolution, conservation, and breeding.
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Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Flocking Behavior in Birds
7 augustus 2022 · 32 min
This episode—which is Number 57— is all about the flocking behavior of birds. Lees meer
Birds of many species spend at least part of their yearly cycle hanging out in groups. This could be just a handful of individuals or it could be a gathering of millions of birds.
Today, we’ll look at some explanations for why—as the saying goes—birds of a feather flock together. What benefits do birds get from forming groups like this?
We’ll also look at how flocks work. As in, their mechanics. For example, how do birds communicate and coordinate their movements in a flock?
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Links of Interest
Starling Murmuration [VIDEO]
Boids algorithm demonstration
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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How Bird Feathers Get Their Colors
21 juli 2022 · 42 min
This episode—which is Number 56— is all about the colors of birds. Lees meer
The diversity of color in bird plumages is one of the things we love most about these animals.
But bird plumages are impressive not only when they display vibrant colors plucked from the rainbow. Thousands of species aren’t what we’d call colorful, but they do have gorgeous, intricately patterned feathers in combinations of black, brown, and white.
Today, we’re looking at how feathers get their colors, from white to subtle earth tones to scintillating displays of wild iridescence.
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Links of Interest
Sponsor Link: Sign up through wren.co/birds to make a difference in the climate crisis, and Wren will plant 10 extra trees in your name!
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Flamingos
8 juli 2022 · 47 min
This is Episode 55. It’s all about birds in the avian family Phoenicopteridae. These are the flamingos. Lees meer
No doubt you already know a fun fact or two about flamingos. These birds are crowd pleasers that get a lot of attention. But today we’re doing a deep dive into their biology. I’m hoping that along the way, you’ll pick up some new flamingo trivia that you can impress your friends with.
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Links of Interest
Underwater Flamingo Feeding [VIDEO]
Flamingo courtship dance [VIDEO]
Over a Million Flamingos | The Great Rift: Africa's Wild Heart [VIDEO]
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Eggs: Incredible and Commendable
24 juni 2022 · 58 min
This episode—which is Number 54—is all about bird eggs. Lees meer
This is an important topic. Eggs are a fundamental aspect of bird biology. Recently, in Episode 49 of the podcast, I covered the topic of nests. So it seems like a logical next step for us to get the lowdown on eggs.
Oology is the science of studying bird eggs. So today, we are all honorary oologists. We’re egg-heads on a mission to better understand how baby birds come into the world.
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Book Recommendations
The Most Perfect Thing: Inside (and Outside) a Bird’s Egg [affiliate link]
Links of Interest
How are Eggs Made (BBC/Attenborough clip) [VIDEO]
Chicken embryo development animation [VIDEO]
Bird Eggs Warn Each Other About Danger [VIDEO]
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Avian Flu
12 juni 2022 · 35 min
This episode—which is Number 53—is all about Avian Influenza. Or colloquially what we call the Avian Flu or Bird Flu. Lees meer
Depending on where you live, you might have noticed news headlines in recent months about the frightening spread of Avian Flu among both domestic and wild birds. I thought you might have some questions about this emerging disease, and so here we are with an entire podcast episode on the subject.
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Links of Interest
Current U.S. Bird Flu Situation in Humans
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Giant Birds: Go Big or Go Home
26 mei 2022 · 30 min
This is Episode 52. Lees meer
Today, we’re talking about bird species that are way, way bigger than your average chickadee or finch.
Our focus will be on evolutionary lineages that spawned some very large bird species. Species whose ancestors had been much smaller, millions of years earlier.
We’ll look at a bunch of interesting giant birds throughout history. Then we’ll talk about some scientific explanations for why these critters got so big in the first place.
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Links of Interest
The Time Terror Birds Invaded [Video]
Takahe - Return to the Wild [Video]
Island Gigantism
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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The Northern Cardinal
6 mei 2022 · 34 min
This is Episode 51. Our bird of interest today is the Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis. Lees meer
This species is widespread across the eastern and southern US. It’s so well-known and loved that it’s the state bird for 7 states—more than any other species.
Northern Cardinals are among the most abundant birds in North America. They’re familiar denizens of backyards that visit feeders all year long. So it shouldn’t be surprising to hear that ornithologists have done a lot of research on this abundant and conspicuous species.
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Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Female Birdsong
19 april 2022 · 23 min
This episode—which is Number 50— is all about Female Birdsong. Lees meer
Songs are one of the things we love most about birds. They define the soundscapes of the natural world.
Even though humans have been surrounded by singing birds for millions of years, we still have some misconceptions about birdsong. Today’s episode is about a misconception of sex differences in birds… Of who sings and who doesn’t.
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Links of Interest
The Forgotten Female: How a Generation of Women Scientists Changed Our View of Evolution
Female Bird Song Project
Video of Superb Fairy Wren female Singing
Singing female Cerulean Warblers [Video]
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Nests: Types, Construction, and Challenges
6 april 2022 · 53 min
This episode—which is Number 49—is all about bird nests. Lees meer
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.
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Links of Interest
Why a Hawk Is a Hummingbird’s Best Friend
Time Lapse Video of Blue Tit Building a Nest
BBC Video of Baya Weaver Nest Construction
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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The Pecking Order: Dominance Hierarchies in Birds
25 maart 2022 · 28 min
This episode—which is Number 48—is about the “Pecking Order” in birds. Or, to use the more technical term, dominance hierarchy. Lees meer
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 interspecies dominance. But today, we’re talking about intraspecies dominance. Meaning within species.
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Links of Interest
Pukeko video
Pukeko fighting video
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers (Family: Laridae)
10 maart 2022 · 43 min
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. Lees meer
Besides gulls and terns, the family Laridae also includes the skimmers and the noddies.
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Links of Interest
Shoplifting gull stealing Doritos.
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Wallace's Line: Where Two Bird Worlds Collide
18 februari 2022 · 20 min
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. Lees meer
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.
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Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Solving Bird Mysteries with Forensic Ornithology
11 februari 2022 · 50 min
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. Lees meer
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, pretty much by definition, morbid. I’ll be talking a lot about dead birds. Blood and guts and all that. I prefer my birds very much alive, thank you, and I’m sure you do too. But, despite the gore, I think you’ll find that forensic ornithology is a fascinating topic. It’s worth learning about, to better appreciate the ways people fight to protect birds.
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Links of Interest
Chuparosa article
The Remarkable Life of Roxie Laybourne
US Fish and Wildlife Forensics Lab
Forensic Ornithologist: Pepper Trail
Forensic Ornithologist: Ariel M. Gaffney
Podcast Episode: Ariel Gaffney, "Bird Crime Fighter"
The Feather Atlas
Feather Identification Lab at Smithsonian
[VIDEO] It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's SNARGE!
Errors and Corrections
10:32 - I said " Law enforcement offers..." when I meant "officers."
32:55 - I said "Yellow-billed Cockatoos," when I meant Yellow-crested Cockatoos
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Coffee and Bird Conservation
20 januari 2022 · 20 min
This episode—which is Number 44—is about the relationship between coffee production and bird conservation. Lees meer
We'll get into how do different types of coffee cultivation affect birds, and the conservation benefits of Bird Friendly Coffee.
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Links of Interest
Smithsonian Bird Friendly Coffee
Bird Friendly Coffee [VIDEO]
Coffee and Conservation
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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The Common Loon
13 januari 2022 · 40 min
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. Lees meer
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.
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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 Loon abundance across the seasons.
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Awesome Things We Learned About Birds in 2021
30 december 2021 · 39 min
2021 is over, yo! So it's time for the Annual Review Episode! Lees meer
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.
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Links of Interest
VIDEO: A snoozing fox meets a plucky little black-crested titmouse
VIDEO: Tapaculos Hunt for Truffles
References
Bird neurocranial and body mass evolution across the end-Cretaceous mass extinction: The avian brain shape left other dinosaurs behind
Shape-shifting: changing animal morphologies as a response to climatic warming
Facultative Parthenogenesis in California Condors
Lifetime reproductive benefits of cooperative polygamy vary for males and females in the acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)
Global abundance estimates for 9,700 bird species
Drones and deep learning produce accurate and efficient monitoring of large-scale seabird colonies
A supergene underlies linked variation in color and morphology in a Holarctic songbird
A new genus and species of tanager (Passeriformes, Thraupidae) from the lower Yungas of western Bolivia and southern Peru
Discovering the Role of Patagonian Birds in the Dispersal of Truffles and Other Mycorrhizal Fungi
What the pluck? The theft of mammal hair by birds is an overlooked but common behavior with fitness implications
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Swallows and Martins
23 december 2021 · 50 min
This episode is all about birds in the family Hirundinidae. These are the swallows and martins. Lees meer
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.
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Fire and Birds
7 december 2021 · 50 min
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. Lees meer
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, which came to be known as the “Black Summer?” Then there were the thousands of fires that broke out in the rainforests and wetlands of Brazil in 2020.
This is all pretty bad news, no doubt. It can be gut-wrenching to watch beautiful wilderness go up in flames, not to mention towns and people’s homes.
But if we temporarily set aside our emotions, we can take a more scientific, objective viewpoint to ask the question:
Are wildfires harmful to birds and other wildlife, in general?
It turns out there’s no simple “yes or no” answer to that question.
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Links of Interest
Old Flames: The Tangled History of Forest Fires, Wildlife, and People
Bringing Back the Red-cockaded Woodpecker: Are Prescribed Fire and Artificial Nests Enough?
New Study Is First to Explore How Wildfire Smoke Derails Bird Migration
These Birds of Prey Are Deliberately Setting Forests on Fire
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Ask Me Anything About Birds - Nov 2021
16 november 2021 · 44 min
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. Lees meer
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!
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Links of Interest
Woodpeckers and Brain Injury Prevention
Bird song could hold clues for human disorders
References
The role of ecologic diversification in sibling speciation of Empidonax flycatchers (Tyrannidae): multigene evidence from mtDNA [PDF]
The Evolution of Stomach Acidity and Its Relevance to the Human Microbiome
A Systematic Review of Carrion Eaters' Adaptations to Avoid Sickness
Features of owl wings that promote silent flight
Upwash exploitation and downwash avoidance by flap phasing in ibis formation flight
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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New World Vultures
3 november 2021 · 52 min
This episode is about the seven bird species in the family Cathartidae: the New World vultures and condors. Lees meer
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.
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How Birds Fly
20 oktober 2021 · 37 min
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? Lees meer
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 have that make them high-octane flying machines.
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Links of Interest
Bird Flight [Wikipedia]
Why do birds fly in a V? Endangered ibis reveals its amazing secret
The amazing muscles and bones that make birds fly
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Penguins
29 september 2021 · 59 min
This episode is all about penguins. All penguins belong to the family Spheniscidae. Lees meer
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 different forms, adapt to incredibly harsh conditions, and still manage to look pretty darn cute.
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Links of Interest
Extinct mega penguin was tallest and heaviest ever
Melting Antarctic Ice Causing Penguins to Starve
Nice illustration showing the relative sizes and appearances of every penguin species.
Scientists Discover “Super-Colony” of 1.5 Million Adélie Penguins in Images From Space
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Wetlands as Bird Habitat
15 september 2021 · 38 min
In this episode, we’re going to look at wetlands as habitats for birds. Lees meer
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.
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Links of Interest
Wetlands International
Where Are The World’s Wetlands? [Map]
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Roadrunners
1 september 2021 · 34 min
This episode is all about the bird species in the genus Geococcyx. There are only two: the Greater Roadrunner and the Lesser Roadrunner. Lees meer
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 culture has paid them some special attention.
Learn about the key traits of roadrunners and their habitats, diet, and breeding.
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Links of Interest
Video: Roadrunner catching a hummingbird
Video: Roadrunner vs Rattlesnake
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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eBird and Citizen Science
21 augustus 2021 · 43 min
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. Lees meer
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 created using eBird data.
I’ll also give you some interesting examples of published studies on birds that used eBird data.
Links of Interest
eBird best practices
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Pigeons and Doves
30 juli 2021 · 45 min
This episode is all about birds in the family Columbidae. These are all the world’s many species of pigeons and doves. Lees meer
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.
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~~ Become a patron to support the podcast ~~Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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The Birds of Alaska
20 juli 2021 · 37 min
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. Lees meer
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 major ecosystems of the region, and then we’ll get into some of the overall characteristics of the birdlife of Alaska.
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Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
Thanks to my newest Patrons for your pledges to support this podcast! I deeply appreciate your help and generosity. Cheers to: Michael R, Justin T, Anette S, David K, Jennifer, Henri-Claude B, Diana H, Jesse M, Pamela G, Carole P, Christine B, Teal, Vero, Emily R, Donna A, and Susan W!
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The Shoebill
10 juni 2021 · 29 min
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. Lees meer
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 Africa.
This episode is all about the Shoebill, Balaeniceps rex. What it looks like, where it lives, how it behaves, and its conservation status.
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Links of Interest
Video of Shoebill chicks competing for attention at the nest
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Artificial Intelligence in Bird Research
29 mei 2021 · 52 min
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. Lees meer
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.
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Links of Interest
BirdCast
BirdNet
Merlin
iNaturalist
Haiku Box
Digital Guide monocular
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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New World Warblers
12 mei 2021 · 58 min
New World Warblers are all the birds in the family Parulidae. You’ll sometimes hear these birds referred to as ‘Wood-Warblers.’ Lees meer
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 magnificent little creatures.
{Special thanks to Sue Riffe for permission to use her Kirtland's Warbler recording}
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Links of Interest
How to Avoid Getting Warbler Neck
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Mate Choice and Sexual Selection in Birds
27 april 2021 · 52 min
This episode is all about how birds choose their mates and the evolutionary outcomes of those choices. Lees meer
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 most about birds are consequences of sexual selection.
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Links of Interest
Video of Long-tailed Manakin Display
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Sandpipers
11 april 2021 · 47 min
Birds in the family Scolopacidae include all the world’s sandpipers and birds such as godwits, curlews, snipes, dowitchers, willets, stints, and more. Lees meer
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.
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Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Bird Intelligence
28 maart 2021 · 48 min
Our understanding of bird brains and intelligence has grown tremendously in the last couple decades. Lees meer
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? Which birds are numbskulls? Have a listen and find out!
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Links of Interest
Book: The Genius of Birds
Book: Bird Brain
New Caledonian Crow Video 1
New Caledonian Crow Video 2
Kea Video
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Vermilion Flycatcher
7 maart 2021 · 20 min
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. Lees meer
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 split this species into several. Under this new classification, the birds found in the US, Mexico, and northern South American are Pyrocephalus obscurus, not P. rubinus.
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Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Cats vs Birds
24 februari 2021 · 39 min
Join Ivan as he wades into the conservation quagmire surrounding house cats and their effects on wild birds. Lees meer
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 cat owners can help protect their local birds as well as keep their kitty happy.
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Links of Interest
Further Reading: The Moral Cost of Cats
Catio Tours in Portland, Oregon
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Finches
5 februari 2021 · 55 min
All about the ‘true’ finches, the species belonging to the family Fringillidae. Lees meer
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 more.
There’s lots of fun stuff to know about these charming birds!
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Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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How Birds Survive in Winter
24 januari 2021 · 41 min
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. Lees meer
Learn how birds generate heat and conserve it, and about the challenges they face in the cold season.
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Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Kingfishers
11 januari 2021 · 47 min
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. Lees meer
Learn about their key features, global distribution, evolution, feeding, and more.
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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
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5 Awesome Things We Learned About Birds in 2020
31 december 2020 · 34 min
Despite much of human civilization grinding to a halt in 2020, research on birds continued to be published in scientific journals. Lees meer
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.
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At the end of the episode, I share a little personal note. :) Happy New Year!
A global analysis of song frequency in passerines provides no support for the acoustic adaptation hypothesis but suggests a role for sexual selection
Dense sampling of bird diversity increases power of comparative genomics
The evolution of a tropical biodiversity hotspot
Phenological synchronization of seasonal bird migration with vegetation greenness across dietary guilds
The phantom chorus: birdsong boosts human well-being in protected areas
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Ducks, Geese, and Swans
20 december 2020 · 48 min
This episode focuses on the biological family Anatidae. This family includes the over 150 species of ducks, geese, and swans in the world. Lees meer
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 fun.
Links of Interest
Why a Female Duck Was Spotted with a Huge Brood of 76 Ducklings
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Bird Party: Mixed-Species Flocks
12 december 2020 · 32 min
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. Lees meer
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
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Peregrine Falcon
5 december 2020 · 36 min
This episode is all about the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), of the family Falconidae. Lees meer
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
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What Is a Species, Really?
29 november 2020 · 45 min
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. Lees meer
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 Science of Birds website
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Pelicans
19 november 2020 · 39 min
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. Lees meerIn 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, and their evolution.
Finally, we touch on some issues about the conservation of pelicans.
Along the way, we’ll do some myth-busting. There are several misconceptions about pelicans that we need to address.
Links of Interest
Video about the plunge-diving adaptations of Brown Pelicans
Video from the BBC about pelicans eating Cape Gannet chicks
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
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Feathers: Form and Function
12 november 2020 · 38 min
Summary
The feather is one of the most iconic symbols of nature. Feathers are indispensable to birds, serving many critically important functions. Lees meerIn 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 common
Video about water repellency in bird feathers
Video of Club-winged Manakin courtship display
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
Errors and Clarifications
Error - At 00:44, I used the word ‘historic,’ when I should have said ‘historical.’
Error - At 06:13, I goofed on the word ‘stratum,’ saying ‘strateum’ by accident.
Attributions
Club-winged Manakin - Recording XC248570 on Xeno Canto
Club-winged Manakin - Recording XC248573 on Xeno Canto
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Brood Parasites Are Devious Birds
5 november 2020 · 31 min
Summary
Brood parasitism is a strange and fascinating behavior that we see (in one form or another) in several hundred bird species. Lees meerThis 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 in this evolutionary arms race. And we’ll get into some ins and outs of the evolutionary process in these birds.
Links of Interest
Video of a cuckoo parasitizing the nest of a parrotbill
Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website
Errors and Clarifications
At 07:38, I say that the only obligate brood parasite bird species in North America is the Brown-headed Cowbird. But the Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus) lives in Mexico year round and breeds in some southern American states (AZ, CA, NM, TX, and LA).
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