Podcast Episodes
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Why a Gorget Glitters
A hummingbird's brilliant throat feathers are called a "gorget," a term applied in past centuries to the metallic swatch protecting the throat of a k…
2 years, 2 months ago
How Birds Survived the Asteroid
The asteroid that struck the Yucatán 66 million years ago wreaked worldwide ecological damage, spelling the end for most dinosaurs and destroying the…
2 years, 2 months ago
White-tailed Hawks on the Texas Coastal Plain
The White-tailed Hawk thrives in the grassy plains of the Texas Coastal Plain, where many tropical species reach the northern limit of their ranges. …
2 years, 2 months ago
Spark Bird: John Kessler and the Music of Birds
John Kessler served as BirdNote’s senior producer for over 18 years. But before BirdNote existed, he was recording the sounds of Seattle for public r…
2 years, 2 months ago
Burrowing Belted Kingfisher
The Belted Kingfisher dashes through the air, warning intruders with its rapid-fire, rattling call. In spring, the best places to see Belted Kingfish…
2 years, 2 months ago
Aviary: Bird Echolocation to the Rescue
In this episode featuring Aviary — the shapeshifting bird superhero — the surprising abilities of birds come in handy when a student gets lost explor…
2 years, 2 months ago
Birds Dress for Spring
It's spring! And for many birds, a time to look their best to attract a new mate. This American Goldfinch has recently molted. Its old, worn-down fea…
2 years, 2 months ago
Lyrebirds Shift the Earth
Beavers are well known as ecosystem engineers in North America. In Australia, lyrebirds play a big role in shaping their environment when they use th…
2 years, 2 months ago
House Wren – Little Brown Dynamo
House Wrens dart from perch to perch and sing almost nonstop. They’re one of the most thoroughly studied songbird species. House Wrens nest in caviti…
2 years, 2 months ago
Mockingbirds Mimic Frogs
The avian world is full of mimicry artists, but Northern Mockingbirds take it to a new level. Not only can they imitate other birds, they can mimic f…
2 years, 2 months ago