Birds of a Feather Talk Together
Birds of a Feather Talk Together is a birding and nature podcast for bird lovers of all experience levels. Hosted by professional ornithologists John Bates and Shannon Hackett, curators of birds at the Field Museum in Chicago, alongside birding enthusiasts RJ Pole and Amanda Pole, the show blends expert insight with fresh curiosity.
John and Shannon bring decades of ornithology experience and access to one of the largest bird collections in the United States, while RJ and Amanda represent newer birders—asking relatable questions that open the conversation to beginners without losing depth for seasoned bird watchers.
Each episode explores rare, exotic, extinct, and everyday birds, covering identification, behavior, conservation, and current avian research. From backyard birds to birds of the world, Birds of a Feather Talk Together offers expert knowledge in an approachable, conversational format.
Subscribe and discover the fascinating world of birds—one chirp at a time. 🐦
Episodes
133 episodes
129: Top Science Stories of 2025
Welcome back to Birds of a Feather Talk Together—and welcome to our first new episode of 2026! After wrapping up our deep dive into ducks, we’re kicking off the new year by doing something a little different: each of us brings a f...
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Episode 129
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1:04:49
128: Wood Duck Revisited
We’re wrapping up our recent duck series with a revisit of one of our favorite Birds of a Feather Talk Together episodes: the Wood Duck. Known for its stunning colors, unique nesting habits, and remarkable conservation comeback,...
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Episode 128
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1:03:28
127: Harlequin Duck Revisited
This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we’re diving back into one of our all-time favorite duck episodes—spotlighting the unforgettable harlequin duck, one of the most striking and resilient waterfowl in North America....
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Episode 127
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32:34
126: Mallard Revisited
In this episode, John breaks down the history and importance of the Christmas Bird Count, one of the longest-running citizen science projects in the world. Then, we dive deep into the fascinating world of the Mallard Duck—one of N...
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Episode 126
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41:36
125: LISTERS! - Movie Review! Plus a WILD Botfly story
We’re kicking off the year with a fun, laughter-filled episode all about our favorite birding movie of last year — LISTERS. If you love birding, birders, and the wonderfully obsessive world of listing, this film is a must-watch. We had a...
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Episode 125
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57:14
124: Snowy Owl - Chicago Sightings, Irruption, and Lemmings
Welcome back to Birds of a Feather Talk Together! We are officially in full winter swing, and that means it’s the perfect time to shine a spotlight on one of the most iconic cold-weather visitors out there — the Snowy Owl.If you...
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Episode 124
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32:38
123: White-throated Sparrow Revisited
In this episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we revisit one of our favorite deep dives on the White-throated Sparrow, a fascinating and familiar North American bird. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda...
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Episode 123
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45:29
122: Flamingos with Ellen Weatherford
This week we’ve got a seriously fun one for you. We are joined by the wonderful Ellen Weatherford from the podcast Just the Zoo of Us.John and Shannon are guests on her show later this month, so we asked Ellen to come cha...
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Episode 122
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1:09:06
121: Varied Thrush - The Lone Forest Dweller AND The Occasional Vagrant
This week we’re diving into a fascinating forest bird—the Varied Thrush. If you’ve ever wandered through the deep, mossy conifer forests of the Pacific Northwest, you might’ve heard their haunting, single-note whistles echoing through th...
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Episode 121
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33:52
120: Mourning Dove Revisited
Happy Thanksgiving from Birds of a Feather Talk Together! We’re taking the week off for the holiday, but we didn’t want to leave you bird-less—so we’re re-sharing one of our favorite episodes, all about the mourning dove, on...
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Episode 120
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26:01
119: Spoon-billed Sandpiper - One Of The Rarest Birds On Earth - Story of Convergence
This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we’re exploring one of the rarest, most extraordinary birds on the planet: the spoon-billed sandpiper—a tiny shorebird with one of nature’s most fascinating evolutionary surprises.
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Episode 119
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32:37
118: Golden Eagle - One of the largest and fastest raptors in North America
The Golden Eagle — one of North America’s largest, fastest, and most powerful raptors — takes center stage in this week’s episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together! Married ornithologists Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shann...
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Episode 118
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35:21
117: Palm-nut Vulture - A Vulture Unlike Any Other!
Welcome back to Birds of a Feather Talk Together. Hosted by ornithologists and curators of birds at the Field Museum John Bates and Shannon Hackett, who are married, and also new birders RJ and Amanda Pole. Today we’re focusi...
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Episode 117
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35:54
116: Common Loon - An Eerie and Beautiful Call - Listener Request!
That echoing, haunting call drifting across a northern lake at dusk — few sounds in nature are as unforgettable as the common loon. In this listener-requested episode, RJ, John, Shannon, and Amanda dive into the world of these striking...
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Episode 116
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1:01:36
115: Downy Woodpecker and Hairy Woodpecker
Welcome back to Birds of a Feather Talk Together, the podcast where bird lovers flock to learn more about the amazing world of birds!In this episode, we’re diving into two of North America’s most look-alike woodpeckers — the Do...
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Episode 115
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1:00:00
114: The Feather Thief with Kirk Wallace Johnson - Revisited
Welcome back to Birds of a Feather Talk Together! We’re taking a short break this week, but we’ve got something special lined up for you. While we gear up for upcoming episodes on Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers—and even a deep dive...
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Episode 114
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1:21:53
113: Kirtland's Warbler Revisited
This week we’re revisiting one of our older episodes all about the Kirtland’s warbler. If you caught our interview with Peter Kaestner (episode 98), you might remember that he almost went birding on the morning of his wedding just t...
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Episode 113
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37:44
112: Brown-headed Cowbird Revisited - Laying Eggs In Other Birds' Nests!
We’re revisiting our episode on the brown-headed cowbird, and trust me, this one’s a wild ride. Did you know cowbirds don’t build their own nests, but instead lay their eggs in other birds’ nests and let them do the parenting? Even ...
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Episode 112
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32:14
111: Project Phoenix with Olivia Sanderfoot and Allison Shultz - How Wildfires Are Impacting Birds
This week we’re excited to welcome two special guests—Olivia Sanderfoot and Allison Shultz—to talk about Project Phoenix. This important project is exploring how wildfire smoke impacts birds on the West Coast, and what that...
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Episode 111
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1:22:11
110: Red-headed Woodpecker - Catching Bugs Out Of The Sky + Paddleboard Sightings
Everyone loves woodpeckers, and the Red-headed Woodpecker is one of the coolest! Listen to what makes this bird unique, like hiding grasshoppers in trees to eat later (while they are still alive.) RJ also tells some paddleboarding mishaps, and ...
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Episode 110
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43:27
109: Olive-sided Flycatcher - John Makes His Case For His Favorite Bird!
This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, John takes the lead with his pick: the Olive-sided Flycatcher. Despite traveling the world and spotting hundreds of bird species, this flycatcher still holds a special place on his list of...
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Episode 109
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36:37
108: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Cute Bird With A Ton Of Personality!
Welcome back to Birds of a Feather Talk Together! This week, the full crew—John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Pole—are back to highlight one of North America’s tiniest and most charming songbirds: the Blue-gray Gnatcat...
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Episode 108
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38:07
107: Club-winged Manakin - Making Robot Noises with its Feathers
This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, it’s Shannon’s turn to pick the bird—and she’s chosen one of the wildest species on the planet: the club-winged manakin. If you’ve never heard of this bird, do yourself a favor righ...
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Episode 107
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50:09
106: Kingfishers Around The World with Jenna Mccullough
In this episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we welcome back Jenna McCullough, a third-generation birdwatcher from Boise, Idaho, with a PhD in Biology from the University of New Mexico. Currently a postdoctoral researche...
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Episode 106
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33:07
105: Mailbag Episode! Birds On The Side Of The Road in Florida, and Sparrows in Pennsylvania
In this fun and fan-fueled episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're diving into the mailbag to answer your burning bird questions! It's our usual hosts, married ornithologists John Bates and Shannon Hackett, and marr...
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Episode 105
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24:49