Bird of the Week

There is no shortage of Robins in the world. You got some in Europe, North America, Africa, Asia and Australia. Chances are if you're standing somewhere in the world, there is a Robin lurking near by. But of course, almost none of them are related to each other. Is it time for another rant about how useless and silly bird names are? You better believe it.
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Notes:
European Robin: https://ebird.org/species/eurrob1
American Robin: https://ebird.org/species/amerob
Australasian Robins: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australasian_robin
Flame Robin: https://ebird.org/species/flarob1
Rose Robin: https://ebird.org/species/rosrob1?siteLanguage=en_AU
Torrent Flyrobin: https://ebird.org/species/torfly1
Japanese Robin: https://ebird.org/species/japrob2
Siberian Blue Robin: https://ebird.org/species/sibrob
Indian Robin: https://ebird.org/species/indrob1 
Robin Accentor: https://ebird.org/species/robacc1

Hybrids, they're strange. So strange that this may not be the episode for everyone, but hey, I'm not here to tell you what to do.

Out in the rainforest of Central and South America there is a family of birds that makes a living by following ants and eating the bugs they disturb. They're the Antbirds and they're pretty neat. In this episode we take a look at what these guys are all about.
To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, What's up with that's Bird's Name? click on through to Patreon: www.patreon.com/birdoftheweek

Want birds in your inbox? Drop me a line at [email protected] and I'll hook you up with a free weekly bird.

Notes:
Antbirds: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/thamno3/cur/introduction#genusThamnophilus
Bicoloured Antbird: https://ebird.org/species/bicant2?siteLanguage=en_AU
Ocellated Antbird: https://ebird.org/species/oceant1
Parasites: https://www.jstor.org/stable/3450647

I've never really been a birder myself. Birding, twitching, getting out in the field and tracking down a bird isn't an activity I've ever taken seriously, mostly because I never really had the time to do. But since going on parental leave I've found myself with hours in the day to fill and a baby who likes getting out and about. So in this episode I present the reflections of a birding novice.
To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, What's up with that's Bird's Name? click on through to Patreon: www.patreon.com/birdoftheweek

Want birds in your inbox? Drop me a line at [email protected] and I'll hook you up with a free weekly bird.

Notes:
Aussie Bird Count: https://aussiebirdcount.org.au/
Merlin Bird ID: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/
eBird Mobile: https://ebird.org/about/ebird-mobile

The show still exists! We are back and this time we are looking at maybe the world's most boring bird, the House Sparrow. These little brown birds live in pretty much every city in the world. Everyone is familiar with them and they have little of interest to offer anyone, ever. Or do they? Well let's find out.
To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, What's up with that's Bird's Name? click on through to Patreon: www.patreon.com/birdoftheweek

Want birds in your inbox? Drop me a line at [email protected] and I'll hook you up with a free weekly bird.

Notes:
House Sparrow: https://ebird.org/species/houspa
The War on Sparrows: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1733312/episodes/16461045-the-war-on-sparrows
Western Australia hates the Sparrow: https://www.dpird.wa.gov.au/siteassets/documents/biosecurity/invasive/birds/sparrows---biosecurity-alert-pf008-23-print.pdf
How Sparrows came to Australia: https://theconversation.com/city-sparrows-came-to-australia-via-india-59730
The Sparrow's evolution: https://www.bbcearth.com/news/how-humans-shaped-the-evolution-of-the-worlds-most-common-bird
Sparrow declining population: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/16/house-sparrow-population-in-europe-drops-by-247m