logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2025
39m 34s

Why are puffins' beaks so colorful?

Vermont Public
About this episode
Have you ever seen a puffin? With their bright beaks, orange feet and black and white coloring, these birds are very cool to look at. And we’ve gotten a lot of questions about them! In this episode, we talk with Don Lyons, an educator and avian ecologist with the Seabird Institute in Maine. What are puffins? Why are puffin beaks so colorful? Why do puffins dig burrows? How do puffins learn to fly? How can you tell if a puffin is male or female? How long can puffins hold their breath? Why do they have red feet? Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Transcript
Up next
Yesterday
What are eels?
What are eels? And why are some eels electric? We head to Poughkeepsie, New York to learn about eels with Chris Bowser, Hudson River estuary educator with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. Plus we learn about electric eels. Electric eels have captured the ima ... Show More
23m 4s
May 1
Why does green mean go and red mean stop?
Why is there traffic? How do traffic lights work? How do they know when to turn red and green? Why does green mean go and red mean stop? Why are cars able to go faster than they are allowed to go with the speed limit? Why do we drive on the right side of the road in the United St ... Show More
36m 3s
Apr 24
Are Komodo dragons really dragons?
Can’t get enough of lizards? We’re back with a bonus episode answering more of your lizard questions with Adam Clause of the San Diego Natural History Museum. This week, chameleons, Komodo dragons, iguanas, monitor lizards and tuatara! How do chameleons change color? Why are Komo ... Show More
20m 51s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2023
Ep08 all about birds
Hummingbirds lay the smallest eggs ,the eggs (of bee) Hummingbirds are about 0.2 inches long .Ostrich lay the biggest birds eggs ,they can weigh up to 5.5 pounds .and they are so hard that a human adult can stand on them without breaking them ,not all eggs are white or brown , th ... Show More
2m 17s
Feb 2022
Birds of a Feather Learn Together
Mindy and Guy Raz are dropping off Reggie at the University of Clever Birds, where they learn about a new class all about opening... trash cans?! Discover how the Sulfur-Crested Cockatoo can break into any trash can! It's the who, what, when, where, why, how and WOW of Bird Beaks ... Show More
22m 54s
Nov 2024
Do birds cough or sneeze?
Birds have a lot going on. They fly, chirp, sing, make nests, lay eggs. But can they cough or sneeze? We asked biologist Imogene Cancellare to help us find the answer. Got a question that’s flying around in your brain? Send it to us at BrainsOn.org/contact, and we’ll help quack t ... Show More
4m 47s
Dec 2024
Brainy Birds: Crows, Ravens, and Parrots
Did you know that some birds are super smart? In this episode, we’ll explore how crows, ravens, and parrots use their brains in amazing ways. These birds can solve tricky puzzles, make tools to get food, and even remember things for a long time. Parrots can copy human speech, and ... Show More
9m 37s
Sep 2024
Albatross
In this episode we learn about a super cool sea bird, the albatross. The albatross has a huge wingspan, can soar for hundreds of miles, and has an unusual mating dance. Check it out here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EYNazaodHg We learn about all these things and more in this ... Show More
17m 34s
Dec 2024
Are whales communicating with their clicks and songs?
Baleen whales sing. Toothed whales click. But how and why do they make these musical sounds?Join Molly and co-host Tyler as they dive into the wonderful world of whale sounds. First, they run into Anna Goldfield on her way to audition for a whale choir. She teaches them about the ... Show More
36m 20s
Aug 2019
Curious About Bees
<p>In episode 47, we learn all about bees.  Why are they so important to us?  What are the different types of bees in a beehive?  Do bees really die after they sting you?</p> <p>Send Us An E-mail - curiouskidpodcast@gmail.com<br /> Support Us On Patreon - <a href="https://www.pat ... Show More
10m 3s
Aug 2023
Ep22 "What do we find beautiful?"
Why do briefly glimpsed people appear to be more attractive? Why did portrait photographers put Vaseline on their lenses, and what does that have to do with Instagram filters? Why are thirsty people more likely to perceive something as transparent? And what does any of that have ... Show More
46m 43s
Nov 2025
Strigiformology (OWLS) Part 2 with R. J. Gutiérrez
<p>We’re back with Dr. R.J. “Rocky” Gutiérrez to answer listeners’ questions on owls. How much wisdom lies behind those big, immovable eyes? Are owls good or bad omens? What’s their proclivity for snatching hats? Is The Staircase owl theory plausible? Is it ok to hoot back at the ... Show More
1h 11m