Birds of a Feather Talk Together
Birds of a Feather Talk Together is a birding and birdwatching podcast for beginners and experts alike, blending expert ornithology with curiosity, storytelling, humor, and real-time discovery.
Hosted from Chicago by married Field Museum ornithologists and curators John Bates and Shannon Hackett, alongside birding enthusiasts RJ and Amanda Pole, the podcast explores the fascinating world of birds through conversations that are educational, approachable, and fun.
Each episode dives into bird behavior, bird migration, bird identification, bird songs and calls, backyard birds, conservation, bird intelligence, evolution, ecology, and the science behind how birds live and adapt. From hummingbirds, owls, woodpeckers, warblers, and herons to rare bird sightings, viral bird stories, and surprising animal behavior, every episode uncovers something remarkable about the natural world.
What makes the show unique is the mix of professional scientists and newer birders learning in real time together. Whether you’re an experienced birder, a casual birdwatcher, or completely new to birding, the conversations are designed to make ornithology accessible and engaging without losing the depth of the science.
The podcast regularly features stories and research connected to the Field Museum, listener-submitted bird sightings, birding adventures, wildlife conservation topics, and current events from across the birding world.
If you love birds, birdwatching, nature podcasts, wildlife, science storytelling, animal behavior, or simply want to better understand the birds around you, Birds of a Feather Talk Together will help you see the natural world in a whole new way.
Episodes
164 episodes
160: Our Summer Birding Adventures - Maine Birding and Much More!
This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we’re catching up on our summer birding adventures!RJ and Amanda share stories from their trip to Maine, including birding around Bar Harbor and taking a wildlife cruise along the coast. The...
159: Common Loon Revisited: The Iconic Call of the North
We're wrapping up our summer break with a revisit to one of North America's most iconic birds: the Common Loon!We'll be back next week with brand-new episodes, but before we do, we're heading back to one of our favorite conversati...
158: Black-capped Chickadee Revisited: The Tiny Bird With an Incredible Memory 🐦
The Black-capped Chickadee may be tiny, but it has one of the most remarkable memories in the bird world.This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're revisiting one of our favorite conversations about this beloved backyard bird. ...
157: Alpine Accentors Revisited: One of the Wildest Mating Systems in the Bird World 🐦
This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're revisiting one of our most unforgettable episodes: the Alpine Accentor.While we're taking a short summer break, we couldn't resist bringing back this fascinating conversation ...
156: Baltimore Orioles: The Master Weavers of the Bird World 🧡🐦
How does a Baltimore Oriole build one of the most extraordinary nests in the bird world?This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we dive into the fascinating world of the Baltimore Oriole—one of North America's most beautiful and r...
155: Noisy Miners: Why Is This Australian Bird So Aggressive?
Why does one of Australia's most familiar birds have a reputation for being such a bully?In this episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're exploring the Noisy Miner—a highly social, intelligent, territorial Australian bird that ...
154: Chimney Swifts: The Birds That Almost Never Stop Flying
How can a bird spend almost its entire life in the air?In this episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're diving into the remarkable world of the Chimney Swift—one of North America's most unusual aerial birds.Chimney Swift...
153: Slate-throated Redstart (or Whitestart) with David Vander Pluym
This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're joined by ornithologist David Vander Pluym to explore a fascinating bird from Central America and South America: the Slate-throated Redstart—also known as the Slate-throated Whitesta...
152: Carolina Wrens: Why One of North America's Loudest Little Birds Deserves Your Love 🐦
This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're taking a closer look at one of North America's most energetic and recognizable backyard birds: the Carolina Wren.This episode was inspired by listener Rebekah, who wrote to us...
151: Black-billed Cuckoos: One of North America's Most Mysterious Birds 🐦
This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we explore one of North America's most secretive and fascinating birds: the Black-billed Cuckoo.Often heard more than seen, Black-billed Cuckoos are mysterious forest birds known fo...
150: California Condors with Christian Flores - The Incredible Comeback of North America's Largest Bird 🦅
This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're joined by zoologist and science communicator Christian Flores (better known as @crikeyitschristian) for a deep dive into one of the greatest conservation success stories in mo...
149: Birding Australia, New Zealand & Beyond + Shannon’s Cochlear Implant Update 🐦🌏
We're officially back with a brand-new episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together!After a short break, the full crew returns to catch up on birding adventures, international travel, spring migration, and some exciting personal ...
148: Club-Winged Manakins: The Bird of the Year That Makes Music With Its Wings 🐦🎵
This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're revisiting one of the most extraordinary birds we've ever covered—and the official winner of our 2026 Bird of the Year tournament: the Club-winged Manakin.While we're getting ...
147: Peter Kaestner: The First Birder to See 10,000 Bird Species in the Wild 🐦
What does it take to see 10,000 species of birds in the wild?Legendary birder Peter Kaestner joins Birds of a Feather Talk Together to tell the story of becoming the first person ever to reach one of birding's most extraordinary mileston...
146: Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers: The Tiny Bird That's Always on the Move 🐦
This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're revisiting one of our favorite episodes about the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher—one of North America's smallest, busiest, and most beloved songbirds.While John is off birding in New Z...
145: Rwenzori Turacos: One of Africa’s Most Beautiful and Colorful Birds 🐦
This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we explore one of the most spectacular birds in Africa: the Rwenzori Turaco.Chosen by Shannon, this stunning bird is famous for its brilliant colors, striking crest, and almost unbe...
144: Black-and-White Warblers: The Tiny Tree-Climbing Warbler that Birders Love 🐦
This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we explore the fascinating world of the Black-and-white Warbler—one of the most unique and behaviorally unusual warblers in North America.Unlike most warblers that hop through leave...
143: Pink-headed Fruit Dove: One of the Most Beautiful Doves in the World 🐦
This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we’re talking about one of the most beautiful doves in the world: the Pink-headed Fruit Dove.Native to the mountain forests of Indonesia, the Pink-headed Fruit Dove is known for its...
142: Costa's Hummingbird - Is Their Range Expanding? A Listener Request!
This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we’re diving into one of the most dazzling birds in North America—the Costa’s Hummingbird. After a listener wrote in with a question, we decided this tiny desert specialist deserved...
141: Black-backed Woodpeckers with Ryan Shostack And Making Birding More Inclusive
This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we’re joined by birder Ryan Shostack to talk about the incredible Black-backed Woodpecker—and how birding can be more inclusive for everyone.The Black-backed Woodpecker is a fascina...
140: Round Robin Championship, also Rusty Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbirds, and The Reiser Brothers Visit The Field Museum
This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we’re diving into stories about two fascinating (and very different) blackbirds: the Rusty Blackbird and the Brown-headed Cowbird.The Rusty Blackbird is one of the fastest-declin...
139: Green Herons: The Incredible Bird That Uses Bait to Catch Fish
Can a bird actually use bait to catch a fish?Green Herons can—and it's one of the most remarkable examples of tool-like behavior in the bird world.In this episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together, Field Museum ornithologists an...
138: Why Long-Eared Owls Roost in HUGE Groups 🦉 | Bird Behavior Explained
Learn about Long-Eared Owls, one of the most fascinating owl species in birding, and why they gather in massive communal roosts. This birdwatching podcast breaks down owl behavior, migration, and ecology for beginners and experts alike. This we...
137: A Rare Arctic Duck Appeared in Europe?! Spectacled Eider Explained
A rare Spectacled Eider showed up far outside its Arctic range—and birders took notice. Learn about eiders, migration patterns, and rare bird sightings in this birding podcast episode. A rare Spectacled Eider sighting in the Netherlands—...
