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
126: Mallards: The World’s Most Familiar Duck Is More Fascinating Than You Think 🦆
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This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we dive into one of the most recognizable and widespread birds in North America: the Mallard Duck.
Before jumping into our duck deep dive, John breaks down the history and importance of the Christmas Bird Count—one of the longest-running citizen science projects in the world and a major part of bird conservation and bird population research.
We then explore what makes Mallards so successful and adaptable, from their seasonal plumage changes and iridescent blue speculum feathers to their behavior, migration, habitat, and how they differ from other duck species. Whether you’ve seen them at local ponds, wetlands, parks, or rivers, Mallards are far more fascinating than many people realize.
In this episode, Field Museum ornithologists John Bates and Shannon Hackett join RJ Pole and Amanda Marquart to discuss Mallard identification, duck behavior, bird migration, waterfowl ecology, and the science behind one of the world’s most familiar ducks.
If you love birding, birdwatching, ducks, waterfowl, bird identification, backyard birds, wildlife science, conservation, and fascinating bird facts, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
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