Birds of a Feather Talk Together
A podcast all about birds. Two bird experts, John Bates and Shannon Hackett, talk with two amateur birders on all things bird related. With access to one of the largest bird collections in the United States, the hosts dive into exotic, rare, extinct, and also common birds. For experienced birders to people who are brand new to birding, this podcast is for anyone who has ever been interested in birds!
Episodes
70 episodes
66: White-throated Sparrow
Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart as we discuss the White-throated sparrow. We talk about sparrows in general, and how to differentiate them based on behavior and not just their appearance. We also talk about how th...
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Episode 66
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45:34
65: Wrentits with Kevin Burns
This week we discuss the wrentit with Kevin Burns! You've probably heard this bird's call in many movies and tv shows, but only seen it if you've been to California or Oregon. They are one of the most sedentary birds in North America, but someh...
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Episode 65
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47:11
64: Inti Tanager with Kevin Burns - Also known as the 'Kill Bill' Tanager
Kevin Burns joins us again to discuss the Inti Tanager. Kevin is an ornithologist and professor of biology at San Diego State University and goes way back with Shannon and John. Kevin tells us all about the story of this bird, from the sighting...
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Episode 64
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57:19
63: Kagu - Ghosts of the Forest
This super unique bird from New Caledonia has been isolated on an island in the Pacific for so long, but somehow its closest relative is the Sunbittern in Central and South America. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart...
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Episode 63
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40:05
62: The Slow Birding Journal with Joan E. Strassmann
We interview evolutionary biologist and the author of 'Slow Birding' Joan E. Strassmann. Joan has a new book released on October 22nd and is called 'The Slow Birding Journal'. It is a unique companion for bird enthusiasts seeking a deeper conne...
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Episode 62
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27:51
61: Roseate Spoonbill Revisited - The Color Pink
We are revisiting an older episode on Roseate Spoonbills for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Roseate Spoonbills are pink, and we talk all about how they get their pink color and where that comes from (hint - it may come from their diet.) We also...
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Episode 61
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35:13
60: Double-crested Cormorant, drying their wings, swimming with heavy bones
This week we talk about the double-crested cormorant. We also answer a question on swans. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart for Birds of a Feather Talk Together this week. Please send us your questions ...
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Episode 60
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57:50
59: Darwin's Finches (they're tanagers!) with Kevin Burns
This week’s episode with Kevin Burns is on Darwin’s Finches. Kevin and Shannon’s research reclassified Darwin’s Finches as Tanagers, so we hear all about what the process was like, and learn more about Darwin’s Finches in this week’s episode. K...
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Episode 59
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39:42
58: Tanagers with Kevin Burns
This week we talk to Kevin Burns about Tanagers. Kevin, an ornithologist and professor of biology at San Diego State University, goes way back with Shannon and John, and led the research that reclassified what exactly a tanager is and what it i...
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Episode 58
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46:32
Teaser: We Are Down This Week - Exciting Episodes On The Horizon!
Howdy everyone! We are down this week but will be back next week with some new very exciting episodes. Take a listen for the full breakdown! Thanks for your patience and support, we'll be back next week and back on schedule with brand new episo...
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1:10
57: Medley - Warblers, European Goldfinches, Cassowaries, Horse Flies, Oh my!
This week we play some highlights from our previous episodes, including some moments with some of our guest. Topics discussed are the Golden-cheeked Warbler with Jack Wildlife, the Southern Cassowary with Wes Larson, the Christmas Bird Count wi...
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Episode 57
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32:19
56: Alpine Accentor - Let's talk about bird sex high in the mountains
This Eurasian bird is more extreme than it looks, and it may not be for what you are expecting. This bird puts the 'bird' in birds and the bees. Join us this week when we talk about the very sexual Alpine Accentor. John Bates, Shan...
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Episode 56
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40:10
55: Peg-billed Finch - Elusive bird from Costa Rica, Shannon and John's experience with them
A bird that not very many people have seen in the wild, but it turns out that Shannon and John have seen a lot of them. They are native to Costa Rica, and only come out when the bamboo is flowering - which is not very often. Hear all about Shan...
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Episode 55
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31:13
54: Black-billed Magpie - Fighting cats, bird funerals, and interactions with humans
Black-billed magpies are super cool! Fun new episode that you won't want to miss. John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart discuss the Black-billed Magpie in this week's episode.We also answer a listener qu...
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Episode 54
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29:15
53: Greater Roadrunner - Adaptations to Live In the Desert, How Fast Are They?
You might know him from the cartoon - but there's a lot more to the Greater Roadrunner than just saying beep beep. We talk all about the adaptations these speedy birds have made to be able to live in the desert, some interesting facts from the ...
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Episode 53
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42:33
52: Burrowing Owls with Aiyana Reissman from Living Coast Discovery Center
Join us this week to talk about Burrowing Owls. These super cool and tiny owls live in burrows in the ground. Hear why, and all about their super unique behavior in this week's episode. Our usual hosts John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and ...
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Episode 52
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58:24
51: Multiple Topics: Belted Kingfisher Family, CT Scanning Birds, Bird Dialect, and A Movie About Cowbirds?
This week a little different than our usual episodes. Instead of talking about a single bird species, we each brought a different topic to the table to talk about. We talked about baby belted Kingfishers, CT scanning birds, different bird...
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Episode 51
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1:06:18
50: Northern Flicker - Hybridization, CTE From Banging Head?
This week we are talking about the Northern Flicker. We talk about the red-shafted and yellow-shafted flickers in different parts of the continent, and how they can hybridize. We also talk about whether or not woodpeckers get CTE from banging t...
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Episode 50
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36:48
49: Giant Hummingbird - New Study!
This week’s episode is about the Giant Hummingbird. A recent study led by Jessie Williamson led to some groundbreaking discoveries about the Giant Hummingbird, including that there are actually two different species, one which has the longest m...
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Episode 49
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48:50
48: Ospreys with Jack Wildlife (Jack Turner) - Memes, Photography, Also Golden-Cheeked Warbler
Jack Turner AKA Jack Wildlife joins us to talk about Ospreys. Jack lives near the Chesapeake Bay, home to the most Osprey in the world. If you aren’t familiar with Jack Wildlife, he runs a popular birding meme account, and he’s also an accompli...
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Episode 48
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1:23:34
Happy Fourth of July! - Teaser for Upcoming Episodes + Spreading the joy of birds
We'll be down this week for the Fourth of July - but back next week. Upcoming episodes on Osprey, Giant Hummingbird, and Northern Flicker. We have a few asks to spread the joy of birding over the Fourth of July. Listen to hear more...
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2:05
47: Light-footed Ridgway's Rail with Aiyana Reissman from Living Coast Discovery Center
We talk about the endangered Light-footed Ridgway's Rail this week with guest Aiyana Reissman. Aiyana is the Animal Care Manager at the Living Coast Discovery Center in San Diego, California. She oversees the care for 25+ species of rescued bir...
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Episode 47
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48:44
46: Cicadas with Maureen Turcatel - impact on birds, blue-eyed cicada, and fungus!
This week is a little different as we aren't discussing a bird, but rather the cicada phenomenon happening in Illinois right now. Maureen Turcatel of the Field Museum joins us to talk about the two different broods of cicadas both happening at ...
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Episode 46
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50:15
45: Ruby-Throated Hummingbird - Also a question on feather iridescence and/or mutation
Somehow it has taken us 45 episodes to get to our first hummingbird - but it's finally here! We have a ton of fun talking about the ruby-throated hummingbird today. John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart are all here for our ...
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Episode 45
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36:00
44: House Wren, we also talk about The Archaeopteryx at the Field Museum
This week we talk about the house wren, but first we talk a little bit about the newest addition to the Field Museum: The Archaeopteryx. A fossil called Archaeopteryx, with feathers, hollow bones, clawed wings, fifty tiny teeth, and a ...
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Episode 44
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34:17
