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The Science of Birds

by Ivan Phillipsen
NatureScienceLife Sciences

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Latest episodes

  • The Terror Birds

    October 13, 2026 · 40 min

    👕 Bird Merch —  Get yourself some bird shirts! ~~~ Episode 139 of The Science of Birds takes listeners into prehistory to meet the Terror Birds: giant, flightless predators of the family Phorusrhacidae. Standing as tall as 10 feet, with…

  • Random Bird Thursday: A Judgemental Songbird with a Long Tail

    October 1, 2026 · 15 min

    In 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 birds we might overlook, even though they certainly deserve some…

  • Birds and the Scientific Method

    September 22, 2026 · 41 min

    👕 Bird Merch —  Get yourself some bird shirts! ~~~ In this episode, host Ivan Phillipsen steps back from bird facts themselves to explore the process behind them: the Scientific Method. He breaks down how scientific understanding is…

  • Random Bird Thursday: A Highly Vocal Species With Female Helpers

    September 3, 2026 · 32 min

    In 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 birds we might overlook, even though they certainly deserve some…

  • Grebes

    August 30, 2026 · 1 hr 0 min

    👕 Bird Merch —  Get yourself some bird shirts! ~~~ Enter the murky aquatic realm of the family Podicipedidae in Episode 137 of the The Science of Birds podcast. Often mistaken for ducks, loons, or coots, grebes are unique, fascinating…

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  • Random Bird Thursday: A Citrus-themed Species with Runny Mascara

    August 14, 2026 · 18 min

    In 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 birds we might overlook, even though they certainly deserve some…

  • From the Field: Australia

    August 8, 2026 · 49 min

    👕 Bird Merch —  Get yourself some bird shirts! ~~~ In this "from the field" episode of The Science of Birds, Ivan Phillipsen takes you on a journey through some iconic landscapes in Australia. Fulfilling a childhood fascination with the…

  • Random Bird Thursday: A Duet-singer That Uses Bones for Decoration

    July 16, 2026 · 12 min

    In 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 birds we might overlook, even though they certainly deserve some…

  • Random Bird Thursday: A Tiny Island Dweller That Likes Vines

    July 2, 2026 · 10 min

    In 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 birds we might overlook, even though they certainly deserve some…

  • Red-winged Blackbird

    June 21, 2026 · 54 min

    👕 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. With a population possibly approaching 200 million, this species is a…

  • Random Bird Thursday: An Alien-Eyed Mountaineer That Sounds Like a Jet

    June 11, 2026 · 15 min

    In 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 birds we might overlook, even though they certainly deserve some…

  • Hawks, Eagles, and Kites

    June 1, 2026 · 59 min

    👕 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, eagles, kites, buzzards, harriers, and Old World Vultures. It's a…

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About the show

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.