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, as well as some differences among them. We also discuss their diversity and distribution.

We continue by examining the duck’s bill and the various things these birds eat.

Breeding, migration, and conservation round out our look at this fascinating group of birds.

Along the way, we goof around and have some fun.

Links of Interest

• Why a Female Duck Was Spotted with a Huge Brood of 76 Ducklings

Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website

Support the show

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 about what mixed-species flocks look and act like. Then we get into the major scientific hypotheses for why these flocks exist at all.

Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website

Support the show

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 of Interest

• Short video about Peregrine Falcons
• Peregrine Falcons under threat from systematic persecution, says RSPB

Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website

Support the show

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 this work.

We begin by highlighting the reasons that scientists need to classify birds as species.

Next, we get into several definitions of ‘species’ and the pros and cons of applying these.

We then look at several case studies of birds to see how they’ve been classified.

Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website

Support the show

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 from the air, others work in cooperative groups to improve their chances of fishing success.

In this episode, we focus on the family Pelecanidae. We go through the characteristics of pelicans, with a focus on their bill and throat pouch.

We also discuss the feeding strategies of pelicans, how they breed, and their evolution.

Finally, we touch on some issues about the conservation of pelicans.

Along the way, we’ll do some myth-busting. There are several misconceptions about pelicans that we need to address.

Links of Interest

• Video about the plunge-diving adaptations of Brown Pelicans
• Video from the BBC about pelicans eating Cape Gannet chicks

Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website

Support the show

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 looking closely at the anatomy—the structure—of a feather.

We discuss the 6 types of feathers: contour feathers, flight feathers, down, semiplumes, bristles, and filoplumes.

Some functions we explore are flight, insulation, and camouflage.

Links of Interest

• Hairs, feathers and scales have a lot in common
• Video about water repellency in bird feathers
• Video of Club-winged Manakin courtship display

Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website

Errors and Clarifications

• Error - At 00:44, I used the word ‘historic,’ when I should have said ‘historical.’
• Error - At 06:13, I goofed on the word ‘stratum,’ saying ‘strateum’ by accident.

Attributions

• Club-winged Manakin - Recording XC248570 on Xeno Canto
• Club-winged Manakin - Recording XC248573  on Xeno Canto

Support the show

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 parasite female flies away and never sees her offspring. The host bird or birds are fooled into raising the foreign chick as their own.

Learn about which types of birds use this breeding strategy, including cuckoos and cowbirds.

We’ll discuss the various tactics used by both the parasites and their hosts in this evolutionary arms race. And we’ll get into some ins and outs of the evolutionary process in these birds.

Links of Interest

• Video of a cuckoo parasitizing the nest of a parrotbill

Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website

Errors and Clarifications

• At 07:38, I say that the only obligate brood parasite bird species in North America is the Brown-headed Cowbird. But the Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus) lives in Mexico year round and breeds in some southern American states (AZ, CA, NM, TX, and LA).

Support the show

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 episode, we first summarize the key features of woodpeckers.

Then we’ll look at the evolution and modern-day diversity of the family.

We discuss many of the special adaptations of woodpeckers, which they use as they go about their day, foraging.

How woodpeckers breed and communicate and a bit about their conservation status round out the episode.

Links to Some Things Mentioned in this Episode

• Dean Hale Woodpecker Festival in Sisters, Oregon (USA)

Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website

Support the show

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 discuss the most important functions of sleep in birds. Then we get into the evolution of sleep in birds.

Along the way, we’ll talk about the similarities and differences of sleep between birds and mammals like us.

Last, we cover where and how birds sleep, regarding location, posture, etc.

Links to Some Things Mentioned in this Episode

• Avian Sleep Group at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology
• Common Swifts Fly for 10 Months Without Landing
• The bird-like dinosaur Mei Long  (“Sleeping Dragon”)

Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website

Errors and Clarifications

• I said that the fossil of the bird-like dinosaur Mei Long (“Sleeping Dragon”) was discovered in 2010. It was actually discovered in 2004. 

Support the show

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 the biggest threats to our most vulnerable bird species?

You can probably guess some of the answers, but you might be surprised by some of what you learn in this episode.

We’ll cover the top five major threats in some detail.

Links to Some Things Mentioned in this Episode

• Birdlife International
• State of the World's Birds 2018
• WWF report 2020
• IUCN Red List
• List of Bird Species that have gone extinct since 1500
• Global Footprint Network

Link to this episode on the Science of Birds website

Support the show