
Avian Navigation: How Birds Find Their Way
From The Science of Birds by Ivan Phillipsen
January 18, 2026 · 37 min · Episode 128
About this episode
This episode explores the fascinating science behind avian navigation and how birds find their way home.
👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts! ~~~ This is Episode 128. How does a bird travel thousands of miles across the globe only to return to the exact same backyard or nest site year after year? This episode explores the fascinating science behind avian navigation. Learn the difference between simple orientation and "true navigation," uncovering how birds reach specific destinations they have never even visited before. The discussion dives into the bird’s "map-and-compass" toolk...
People in this episode
Host: Ivan Phillipsen
Topics covered
- avian navigation
- bird migration
- orientation
- true navigation
- map-and-compass
- science of birds
Keywords
- avian navigation
- bird migration
- orientation
- true navigation
- map-and-compass
- science
- nature
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