Ducks, Geese, and Swans
This episode focuses on the biological family Anatidae. This family includes the over 150 species of ducks, geese, and swans in the world. First, we highlight the key features shared by these birds,...
20 Dec 202047min
Bird Party: Mixed-Species Flocks
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...
12 Dec 202030min
Peregrine Falcon
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 ...
5 Dec 202035min
What Is a Species, Really?
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...
29 Nov 202043min
Pelicans
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 ...
19 Nov 202037min
Feathers: Form and Function
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...
12 Nov 202037min
Brood Parasites Are Devious Birds
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...
5 Nov 202029min
Woodpeckers
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...
29 Okt 202036min
