New Books in Biology and Evolution · New Books Network

Eliot Schrefer, "Queer Ducks (and Other Animals): The Natural World of Animal Sexuality" (Clarion Books, 2022)

·1 hr 10 min·5 clips

Help shape the future of New Books Network by sharing your thoughts in our 2026 audience survey.

This episode features author Eliot Schrefer discussing his book "Queer Ducks (and Other Animals): The Natural World of Animal Sexuality." Hosted by New Books in Biology and Evolution, the conversation explores animal behavior beyond a reproductive framework. Schrefer is a National Book Award finalist known for his young adult and nonfiction works on science and nature. The book examines same-sex sexual behavior, bonding, and gender fluidity observed across the animal kingdom. Schrefer references specific species like the Laysan albatross, where female-female pairs successfully raise offspring. He details observations of same-sex courtship and mating in species ranging from bottlenose dolphins to Japanese macaques. The discussion includes the work of researchers like biologist Joan Roughgarden, who critiques traditional evolutionary narratives. Schrefer explains how these behaviors are documented in both wild populations and captive settings, such as zoos. A key insight is that these behaviors are not rare anomalies but are widespread and ecologically integrated. Schrefer argues that a strict "survival of the fittest" lens often overlooks the social and cooperative functions of sexuality. The book challenges the notion that animal behavior is purely instinctual and driven solely by reproduction. He presents examples where same-sex pairs contribute to group stability and offspring survival. The conversation highlights how scientific observation has been historically filtered through human cultural biases. Schrefer notes that acknowledging this diversity in nature can reshape human conversations about sexuality. The tone is educational and conversational, blending scientific explanation with accessible storytelling. The style is informative and engaging, aimed at making complex biological concepts relatable. Listeners interested in biology, animal behavior, and the science of sexuality would find this episode compelling. Those seeking a strictly traditional or purely reproduction-focused view of evolutionary biology might find the perspectives challenging.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from New Books in Biology and Evolution