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.
Notable Guests
Episodes (156)
Random Bird Thursday: A Highly Vocal Species With Female Helpers
The Science of Birds
Grebes
The Science of Birds
Random Bird Thursday: A Citrus-themed Species with Runny Mascara
The Science of Birds
From the Field: Australia
The Science of Birds
Random Bird Thursday: A Duet-singer That Uses Bones for Decoration
The Science of Birds
Random Bird Thursday: A Tiny Island Dweller That Likes Vines
The Science of Birds
Red-winged Blackbird
The Science of Birds
Random Bird Thursday: An Alien-Eyed Mountaineer That Sounds Like a Jet
The Science of Birds
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites
The Science of Birds
From the Field: Birding Romania
The Science of Birds
Random Bird Thursday: A Crepuscular Species That Is Not Actually Magical
The Science of Birds
Rivers & Streams as Bird Habitat
The Science of Birds
Random Bird Thursday: A Trans-Andean Ant-Follower with a Complex Social Life
The Science of Birds
The Northern Flicker
The Science of Birds
Random Bird Thursday: A Colorful, Dumpy Bird That Chills With Chimps
The Science of Birds
Vagrancy: Why Some Birds End Up Far From Home
The Science of Birds
Random Bird Thursday: A Large Fat-eater from Patagonia
The Science of Birds
Cuckoos
The Science of Birds
Random Bird Thursday: An Antisocial Bottom-Feeder from the Antipodes
The Science of Birds
Avian Navigation: How Birds Find Their Way
The Science of Birds
Random Bird Thursday: A Fire-Loving Songbird Adorned with Black Oil Drops
The Science of Birds
What We Learned About Birds in 2025
The Science of Birds
Random Bird Thursday: A Worm-slurping Mud-runner From Siberia
The Science of Birds
Herring Gulls
The Science of Birds
Random Bird Thursday: A Species with an Executioner’s Axe for a Face
The Science of Birds
How Birds Breathe: The Avian Respiratory System
The Science of Birds
Random Bird Thursday: A Sparrow-sized Drummer from the Neotropics
The Science of Birds
Mockingbirds and Thrashers
The Science of Birds
Random Bird Thursday: A Fatally Fearless Bird That Seems to Swallow Basketballs
The Science of Birds
Bird Subspecies: Another Layer of Diversity
The Science of Birds
Random Bird Thursday: A Master of the Sky That Flies Fast and Far
The Science of Birds
Sage Grouse
The Science of Birds
Random Bird Thursday: An Orange and Black Species With Females That Like to Sing
The Science of Birds
From the Field: Japan
The Science of Birds
Random Bird Thursday: A Mostly Motionless Bird with Walrus Tusks
The Science of Birds
Ask Me Anything About Birds - Summer 2025
The Science of Birds
Random Bird Thursday: A Naughty Yet Agreeable Seabird
The Science of Birds
From the Field: Mongolia
The Science of Birds
Three of the World's Weirdest Bird Species
The Science of Birds
How to Identify Birds in the Field
The Science of Birds
Nightjars, Nighthawks, and Other Goatsuckers
The Science of Birds
How to Find Birds
The Science of Birds
The Osprey
The Science of Birds
Traditional Field Guides vs. Mobile Apps: A Birder's Dilemma
The Science of Birds
From the Field: Patagonia
The Science of Birds
Crossbills
The Science of Birds
Cooperative Breeding in Birds
The Science of Birds
From the Field: Birding Nepal and Bhutan
The Science of Birds
From the Field: Birding in China
The Science of Birds
From the Field: Birds and Birding in Vietnam and Cambodia
The Science of Birds