- 18 minutes 22 secondsRandom Bird Thursday: A Citrus-themed Species with Runny Mascara
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 appreciation and attention.
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⚠️ SPOILER ALERT!
The featured species in this episode is the Orange-headed Thrush (Geokichla citrina).
Sound Citations:
Chuenguey Hwang, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3dXua_kD20
14 August 2026, 3:00 am - 48 minutes 31 secondsFrom the Field: Australia
👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts!
~~~In this "from the field" episode of The Science of Birds, Ivan Phillipsen takes you on a journey through some iconic landscapes in Australia. Fulfilling a childhood fascination with the Outback, Ivan splits his two-week adventure between the arid, rust-red deserts of the Northern Territory's Red Centre and the lush, ancient tropical rainforests of Queensland.
Along the way, he shares the excitement of racking up some "lifers" while encountering some of Australia’s unique avian families. From colorful, charismatic parrots and adorable finches to highly sought-after, elusive rainforest dwellers, Ivan details the thrill of tracking down endemic species and observing fascinating bird behaviors in the wild. Beyond the incredible birding, he also sets out to find a few of Australia's most iconic and unusual mammals.
Tune in to hear all about the rewarding highs of birding in the land down under, and get a sneak peek at an exciting future birding expedition he is scouting for 2028!
8 August 2026, 10:00 pm - 12 minutes 16 secondsRandom Bird Thursday: A Duet-singer That Uses Bones for Decoration
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 appreciation and attention.
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⚠️ SPOILER ALERT!
The featured species in this episode is the Rufous Cacholote (Pseudoseisura unirufa).
Sound Citations:
Sjoerd Mayer, XC3496. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/3496.
16 July 2026, 7:00 am - 10 minutes 16 secondsRandom Bird Thursday: A Tiny Island Dweller That Likes Vines
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 appreciation and attention.
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⚠️ SPOILER ALERT!
The featured species in this episode is the Rufous-sided Gerygone (Gerygone dorsalis).
Sound Citations:
Colin Trainor, XC138529. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/138529.
2 July 2026, 7:00 am - 53 minutes 53 secondsRed-winged Blackbird
👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts!
~~~Episode 135 takes on one of North America's most recognizable birds: the Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus. With a population possibly approaching 200 million, this species is a fixture of wetlands and marshes across the continent, and one of the most intensively studied birds in ornithology.
Ivan explores the biology and behavior that make this bird so compelling: its striking sexual dimorphism, the surprisingly complex story behind those iconic red epaulets, and a breeding system that turns out to be far messier than it first appears. Territorial wars, interspecies conflict, and the occasional human casualty are all part of the picture.
The episode also digs into the Red-winged Blackbird's fraught relationship with agriculture—from the enormous crop damage these birds can cause to the high-tech and sometimes controversial methods farmers use to manage them. And despite being among the most abundant birds on the continent, the species has seen a significant population decline over recent decades.
21 June 2026, 7:00 am - 15 minutes 27 secondsRandom Bird Thursday: An Alien-Eyed Mountaineer That Sounds Like a Jet
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 appreciation and attention.
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⚠️ SPOILER ALERT!
The featured species in this episode is Jameson's Snipe (Gallinago jamesoni).
Sound Citations:
Niels Krabbe, XC238296. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/238296.
Niels Krabbe, XC47237. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/47237.
Niels Krabbe, XC238308. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/238308.
11 June 2026, 7:00 am - 59 minutes 22 secondsHawks, Eagles, and Kites
👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts!
~~~This is Episode 134. Ivan takes on one of the most iconic bird families in the avian world: Accipitridae—the hawks, eagles, kites, buzzards, harriers, and Old World Vultures. It's a massive and diverse group with no good nickname, though Ivan has a few suggestions.
The episode covers the key traits that make these birds such formidable predators—from their hooked bills and locking talons to the bony "brow ridge" that gives them their signature scowl. Ivan also digs into the family's staggering diversity: 249 species across 73 genera.
Along the way, there's some evolutionary biology, a Weirdo Alert, and a look at the ancient giant that makes today's largest eagles seem modest by comparison.
Links of Interest
- Haast's Eagle episode of the Blurbs podcast
- Harpy Eagle video in Spanish, by Alberto Lobato [VIDEO]
- Wild Latitudes: Worldwide birding and nature tours.
1 June 2026, 4:00 am - 39 minutes 4 secondsFrom the Field: Birding Romania
👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts!
~~~In this From the Field episode Ivan takes listeners along on a two-week scouting trip to Romania where he explored the country's remarkable natural landscapes in preparation for a future birding tour. There's just one catch: his binoculars broke almost immediately after arriving.
Despite that setback, Ivan racks up some lifers and shares highlights from two very different corners of the country. First, he heads to the Danube River Delta on the Black Sea coast—widely considered the best birding site in Europe—where he had an unforgettable day exploring the maze of channels by boat. Then he crosses the Carpathian Mountains into Transylvania, where ancient forests, castles, charming villages, stork nests, and bears round out the adventure.
17 May 2026, 7:00 am - 18 minutes 47 secondsRandom Bird Thursday: A Crepuscular Species That Is Not Actually Magical
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 appreciation and attention.
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⚠️ SPOILER ALERT!
The featured species in this episode is the Jungle Owlet (Glaucidium radiatum).
Sound Citations:
Dr S S Suresh, XC1102415. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/1102415
Swami Bogim, XC1037332. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/1037332.
30 April 2026, 7:00 am - 59 minutes 49 secondsRivers & Streams as Bird Habitat
👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts!
~~~In Episode 132, Ivan Phillipsen explores the "circulatory system of the land"—the world of rivers and streams. These flowing-water environments, serve as vital habitats for avian life.
The episode delves into the ecology of these waterways, breaking down the differences between clear, rocky upland streams and the warmer, sediment-rich rivers of the lowlands. Listeners will learn about the distinct "zones" of a stream—from the central channel to the lush riparian zone—and discover what resources birds need to thrive in these high-energy environments.
At the heart of the discussion are the "stream specialists"—a select group of approximately 60 bird species worldwide that are evolutionarily tied to flowing water. From the underwater antics the American Dipper to the massive, fish-hunting Blakiston’s Fish-Owl, the episode highlights the incredible adaptations of birds that make their living among the rapids. Whether exploring the global diversity hotspots of the Himalayas or the secretive lives of "streamcreepers," this episode is an inviting look at the birds that call the water's edge home.
Wild Latitudes: Worldwide birding and nature tours.
22 April 2026, 7:00 am - 26 minutes 8 secondsRandom Bird Thursday: A Trans-Andean Ant-Follower with a Complex Social Life
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 appreciation and attention.
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⚠️ SPOILER ALERT!
The featured species in this episode is the Bicolored Antbird (Gymnopithys bicolor).
Sound Citations:
Niels Krabbe, XC250916. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/250916.
Johan Chaves, XC949385. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/949385.
Niels Krabbe, XC248252. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/248252.
Patricio Mena Valenzuela, XC275411. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/275411.
9 April 2026, 7:00 am - More Episodes? Get the App