The Science of Birds

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. First, we talk abo...

This episode is all about the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), of the family Falconidae. Learn about this incredible bird's key features, its global diversity, feeding behavior, and more. Links ...

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...

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 ...

Summary The feather is one of the most iconic symbols of nature. Feathers are indispensable to birds, serving many critically important functions.  In this episode, we explore those functions after lo...

Summary Brood parasitism is a strange and fascinating behavior that we see (in one form or another) in several hundred bird species. This is where a female lays an egg in the nest of another bird. The...

Summary Learn about the amazing birds in the family Picidae—the woodpeckers. These charismatic birds have a suite of adaptations that make them excellent at the job of excavating wood.  In this episod...

Summary When birds disappear at night, where do they go and what are they doing? Most of them are sleeping, of course. But sleep in birds differs greatly from what you and I do. In this episode, we di...

Summary Birds around the world are in trouble. Their populations have suffered major declines in the last 50 years. What does the latest research tell us about the causes of these declines? What are t...

Episode: 8 Summary The remarkable behavioral and anatomical features of hummingbirds are what make them so endearing to us. The way they fly, their colors, and their penchant for flowers have all mad...