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
125 episodes
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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54:16
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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1:01:43
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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43:55
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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18:14
From the Field: Mongolia
This is Episode 119. In this unscripted “From the Field” episode, host Ivan Phillipsen takes you on a journey through the grasslands, forests, and mountains of Mongolia. Fresh from a ten-day scouting trip in central Mongolia, Ivan recounts his ...
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Episode 119
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1:01:33
Three of the World's Weirdest Bird Species
Ivan was a recent guest on Just the Zoo of Us, a fun podcast about animals. The full conversation between Ivan and Host Ellen Weatherford is included in this special episode. They talk abou...
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Episode 118
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57:30
How to Identify Birds in the Field
In this practical episode about birding skills, Ivan Phillipsen dives into the process of bird identification. Listeners are introduced to a five-step framework for figuring out which bird species they’re observing. Ivan walks through how to us...
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Episode 117
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41:54
Nightjars, Nighthawks, and Other Goatsuckers
In this episode, Ivan Phillipsen takes listeners on an immersive journey into the strange and secretive world of birds in the family Caprimulgidae. These cryptically colored, nocturnal birds include nightjars, nighthawks, poorwills, and whip-po...
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Episode 116
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54:59
How to Find Birds
In this episode—which is number 115—Ivan Phillipsen guides listeners through the art and science of finding birds—a skill that even seasoned birders are always refining. While birds are everywhere, intentionally locating them in nature can be s...
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Episode 115
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1:10:45
The Osprey
In this episode—which is Number 114—host Ivan Phillipsen dives into the world of the Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)—a bird that’s all about fish. With a global distribution and a singular place in the avian family tree, the Osprey is both ...
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Episode 114
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55:54
Traditional Field Guides vs. Mobile Apps: A Birder's Dilemma
In this episode—which is number 113—host Ivan Phillipsen explores the fascinating crossroads of tradition and technology in the world of birding. With a mix of personal anecdotes and professional insights, he dives into the enduring charm of pr...
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Episode 113
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47:00
From the Field: Patagonia
In this "From the Field" episode, which is number 112, host Ivan Phillipsen shares his recent experiences birding in Patagonia while leading a two-week tour through this remote and breathtaking region. Speaking from Puerto Varas, Chile, he prov...
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Episode 112
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1:04:23
Crossbills
In this episode, which is number 111, Ivan Phillipsen explores the fascinating world of crossbills, a unique group of finches with an extraordinary beak adaptation. These birds, found across North America, Europe, and Asia, use their specialize...
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Episode 111
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49:38
Cooperative Breeding in Birds
In this episode—which is number 110—Ivan explores the fascinating world of cooperative breeding in birds, a system in which multiple adults help raise young in a group setting. He begins with an intriguing story from the Kalahari Desert, where ...
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Episode 110
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58:55
From the Field: Birding Nepal and Bhutan
The final installment of "From the Field" episodes from Ivan's 2.5-month journey through Asia. In this episode he describes his experiences in the Himalayan countries of Nepal and Bhutan. ~~
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Episode 109
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1:00:00
From the Field: Birding in China
Ivan shares his birding experiences and impressions from an amazing 3-week adventure through the provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan in China. ~~ Le...
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Episode 108
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51:12
From the Field: Birds and Birding in Vietnam and Cambodia
Recorded in a hotel room in China, Ivan shares his recent birding and travel experiences in the countries of Vietnam and Cambodia. ~~ Leave me a...
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Episode 107
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51:35
From the Field: How My Life Became All About Birds
From a hotel in Vietnam, Ivan tells the tale of how he created a career centered on birds and birding. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser<...
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Episode 106
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31:54
Mergansers
This is Episode 105. It’s all about a small group of birds called mergansers. These are diving ducks known for their skill at catching fish. They have long, slender bills with serrated edges, earning them the nickname "sawbills." M...
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Episode 105
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58:55
Bird Habitat: Rocky Shores and Sandy Beaches
This episode—which is Number 104—is all about rocky shores and sandy beaches as bird habitat. These environments offer birds very different resources and challenges. We explore the geology behind these habitats—how high-energy waves shape rocky...
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Episode 104
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47:10
New World and African Parrots
In this episode—which is Number 103—we enter the fascinating world of parrots, focusing on species in the family Psittacidae, which includes New World parrots and some African species. We look at key parrot traits like their zygodactyl feet, st...
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Episode 103
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1:00:00