The Science of Birds
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.
Episodes
142 episodes
Random Bird Thursday: A Colorful, Dumpy Bird That Chills With Chimps
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 appreciat...
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15:22
Vagrancy: 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...
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Episode 130
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55:40
Random Bird Thursday: A Large Fat-eater from Patagonia
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 appreciat...
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25:48
Cuckoos
👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts!~~~In this episode, host Ivan Phillipsen dives into the diverse and sometimes mysterious world of the avian fam...
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Episode 129
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1:07:22
Random Bird Thursday: An Antisocial Bottom-Feeder from the Antipodes
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 appreciat...
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15:51
Avian 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 ...
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Episode 128
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40:14
Random Bird Thursday: A Fire-Loving Songbird Adorned with Black Oil Drops
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 appreciat...
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16:10
What 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 s...
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Episode 127
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45:38
Random Bird Thursday: A Worm-slurping Mud-runner From Siberia
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 appreciat...
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22:19
Herring 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 Gull...
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Episode 126
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48:03
Random Bird Thursday: A Species with an Executioner’s Axe for a Face
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 appreciat...
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15:01
How Birds Breathe: The Avian Respiratory System
👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts!~~~This is Episode 125. Host Ivan Phillipsen takes listeners inside the amazing respiratory system of birds. He...
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Episode 125
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39:37
Random Bird Thursday: A Sparrow-sized Drummer from the Neotropics
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 appreciat...
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18:19
Mockingbirds and Thrashers
👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts!~~~This is Episode 124. Host Ivan Phillipsen takes you on a tour of Mimidae—the New World family that includes ...
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Episode 124
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1:01:09
Random Bird Thursday: A Fatally Fearless Bird That Seems to Swallow Basketballs
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 appreciat...
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20:38
Bird Subspecies: Another Layer of Diversity
👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts!~~~In Episode 123 Ivan Phillipsen explores the fascinating world of subspecies—the diversity that exists within...
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Episode 123
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49:41
Random Bird Thursday: A Master of the Sky That Flies Fast and Far
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 appreciat...
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28:11
Sage Grouse
👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts!~~~This is Episode 122. Host Ivan Phillipsen takes listeners into the vast sagebrush steppe of western North Am...
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Episode 122
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57:11
Random Bird Thursday: An Orange and Black Species With Females That Like to Sing
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 appreciat...
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24:45
From the Field: Japan
👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts!~~~This is Episode 121. In this unscripted “From the Field” episode, host Ivan Phillipsen takes listeners on an...
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Episode 121
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1:04:37
Random Bird Thursday: A Mostly Motionless Bird with Walrus Tusks
In each Random Bird Thursday (RBT) episode, the idea 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 deserve some appreciation and at...
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19:19
Ask Me Anything About Birds - Summer 2025
👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts!~~~In this episode—which is Number 120—Ivan answers questions sent in by listeners. So this is what we call an ...
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Episode 120
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46:49
Random Bird Thursday: A Naughty Yet Agreeable Seabird
This is the first ever Random Bird Thursday! Ivan is experimenting with publishing these shorter, unscripted episodes. In each Random Bird Thursday episode, the idea is to highlight a bird species that probably isn't going to get feature...
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21:08