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
158: Black-capped Chickadee Revisited: The Tiny Bird With an Incredible Memory 🐦
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This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're revisiting one of our favorite episodes about one of North America's most beloved backyard birds: the Black-capped Chickadee.
While we're taking a short summer break, we wanted to bring back this fun conversation about a bird that may be tiny in size but is remarkable in almost every way. Famous for its cheerful "chick-a-dee-dee-dee" call, fearless personality, and incredible intelligence, the Black-capped Chickadee is a favorite among birders and backyard birdwatchers alike.
Field Museum ornithologists and Curators of Birds John Bates and Shannon Hackett join RJ and Amanda Pole for a deep dive into Black-capped Chickadee behavior, bird identification, bird songs and calls, food caching, winter survival, nesting, and the astonishing memory that allows these birds to hide—and relocate—thousands of seeds each year.
We also explore how chickadees communicate with one another, why they're among the most studied songbirds in North America, and what makes them such an important species for scientists researching bird cognition and behavior.
To wrap up the episode, we answer a listener mailbag question about acclaimed nature writer Ellen Meloy and discuss the connection between birds, storytelling, and our appreciation for the natural world.
Whether you're a lifelong birder, a backyard bird enthusiast, or simply curious about one of North America's friendliest birds, this episode is full of fascinating bird science, ornithology, and practical birding insights.
If you love birding, birdwatching, backyard birds, songbirds, bird behavior, bird intelligence, bird identification, ornithology, wildlife science, and nature podcasts, this is an episode you won't want to miss.
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