The Science of Birds

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Penguins

This episode is all about penguins. All penguins belong to the family Spheniscidae. Penguins are among the most bizarre and specialized birds in the world. Few other birds represent such a departure from what we think of as the standard avian model. The specializations of penguins—their adaptations—serve them very well for a life of diving deep into the ocean and of surviving in extreme cold. These birds are wonderful examples of how “life finds a way”—how animals can evolve into radically different forms, adapt to incredibly harsh conditions, and still manage to look pretty darn cute. ~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~ Links of Interest Extinct mega penguin was tallest and heaviest everMelting Antarctic Ice Causing Penguins to StarveNice illustration showing the relative sizes and appearances of every penguin species.Scientists Discover “Super-Colony” of 1.5 Million Adélie Penguins in Images From SpaceSupport the show

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  The Avian Digestive System

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  House Sparrow

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  Bird Habitat: Deserts

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  Chickadees, T**s, and Titmice

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  Flowers and Feathers: The Importance of Birds as Pollinators

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  Fascinating Things We Learned About Birds Last Year

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  Owls

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  Avian Rebrand: New Names for Many North American Birds

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  Bird Beaks: The Right Tool for the Job

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  Meadowlarks

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  Saving Bird Species From the Brink of Extinction

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  Quails of the New World

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  Tracking Methods: How We Know Where Birds Go

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  Sunbirds and Spiderhunters

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  Earthbound: How Birds Become Flightless

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  Red-tailed Hawk