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
63: Kagus: The Strange Island Bird With an Impossible Relative 🐦
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This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we explore one of the strangest and most fascinating birds in the world: the Kagu.
Native to the remote Pacific island of New Caledonia, the Kagu is a rare and unusual bird that has evolved in isolation for millions of years. Known for its ghostly gray plumage, dramatic crest displays, and unique vocalizations, the Kagu is unlike almost any other bird on Earth.
But perhaps the most surprising thing about the Kagu is its closest living relative: the Sunbittern, a bird found thousands of miles away in Central and South America. We dive into the evolutionary mystery behind this relationship, island biogeography, bird evolution, and what makes isolated island species so scientifically fascinating.
In this episode, Field Museum ornithologists and curators of birds John Bates and Shannon Hackett join RJ Pole and Amanda Marquart to discuss Kagu behavior, bird evolution, island ecology, conservation, bird identification, and the remarkable adaptations that make this species so unique.
If you love birding, birdwatching, rare birds, island wildlife, ornithology, evolution, bird behavior, wildlife science, and fascinating bird facts, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
We also answer a question on feathers. Here is the organization that we were referencing in the feather question: https://libertywildlife.org/conservation-services/non-eagle-feather-repository-2/
Please send us your questions for us to answer as well! You can send them to podcast.birdsofafeather@gmail.com
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