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.
Birds of a Feather Talk Together
53: Greater Roadrunners: The Real Desert Bird Behind the “Beep Beep” 🏜️🐦
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This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we dive into the fascinating world of the Greater Roadrunner—the iconic desert bird made famous by cartoons, but far more incredible in real life.
Known for their speed, hunting ability, and unique desert adaptations, Greater Roadrunners are some of the most recognizable birds of the American Southwest. We explore how these birds survive extreme desert heat, what they eat, how fast they can run, and the surprising behaviors that make them such effective predators in harsh environments.
In this episode, Field Museum ornithologists and curators of birds John Bates and Shannon Hackett join RJ and Amanda Pole to discuss roadrunner behavior, desert ecology, bird identification, and some fun facts connected to the famous cartoon version of the bird.
We also answer a listener mailbag question about The Feather Thief, leading to a conversation about bird collections, museum specimens, and the strange true story behind one of the most talked-about books in modern birding.
If you love birding, birdwatching, desert birds, animal behavior, ornithology, wildlife science, fascinating bird facts, and learning about iconic North American birds, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
Here is the link to the other podcast that Shannon was on that we referenced in the episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e32-chickadee/id1681354028?i=1000663586496
Please send us your questions for us to answer as well! You can send them to podcast.birdsofafeather@gmail.com
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