Birds of a Feather Talk Together

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together , we explore one of North America's most secretive and fascinating birds: the Black-billed Cuckoo. Often heard more than seen, Black-billed Cuckoos are mysterious forest birds known for their elusive behavior, unique adaptations, and surprising diet. In this episode, we dive into what makes this species so unusual, from its preference for hairy ca...

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together , we're joined by zoologist and science communicator Christian Flores (better known as @crikeyitschristian ) for a deep dive into one of the greatest conservation success stories in modern history: the California Condor. Once soaring alongside mammoths, saber-toothed cats, giant ground sloths, and other Ice Age megafauna, California Condors have s...

We're officially back with a brand-new episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together ! After a short break, the full crew returns to catch up on birding adventures, international travel, spring migration, and some exciting personal updates. Field Museum ornithologists and curators of birds John Bates and Shannon Hackett join RJ and Amanda Pole for a wide-ranging conversation that takes us from...

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together , we're revisiting one of the most extraordinary birds we've ever covered—and the official winner of our 2026 Bird of the Year tournament: the Club-winged Manakin. While we're getting ready to return with brand-new episodes next week, we couldn't resist taking another look at the bird that captured the hearts of our listeners and ea...

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together , we're revisiting one of our favorite interviews with legendary birder Peter Kaestner—the first person in history to see more than 10,000 bird species in the wild. While John continues his birding adventures in New Zealand and Australia, we thought it was the perfect time to revisit this incredible conversation. Peter recently came up on the podc...

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together , we're revisiting one of our favorite episodes about the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher—one of North America's smallest, busiest, and most beloved songbirds. While John is off birding in New Zealand and Australia, we're taking a look back at this conversation about a bird that perfectly captures what makes birdwatching so rewarding. Blue-gray Gn...

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together , we explore one of the most spectacular birds in Africa: the Rwenzori Turaco. Chosen by Shannon, this stunning bird is famous for its brilliant colors, striking crest, and almost unbelievable appearance. If you’ve never seen a Rwenzori Turaco before, you may want to look up a photo right now—its vibrant plumage makes it one of the most beautiful birds...

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together , we explore the fascinating world of the Black-and-white Warbler—one of the most unique and behaviorally unusual warblers in North America. Unlike most warblers that hop through leaves and branches, Black-and-white Warblers climb tree trunks and branches much like nuthatches or woodpeckers, making them instantly recognizable to birders once you know w...

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together , we’re talking about one of the most beautiful doves in the world: the Pink-headed Fruit Dove. Native to the mountain forests of Indonesia, the Pink-headed Fruit Dove is known for its stunning pink head and chest, vibrant green body, and striking necklace-like markings. Because these birds live in remote high-elevation habitats, they haven’t been stud...

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together , we’re diving into one of the most dazzling birds in North America—the Costa’s Hummingbird . After a listener wrote in with a question, we decided this tiny desert specialist deserved a full episode—and it does not disappoint. From its iridescent purple crown to its high-speed aerial displays, the Costa’s Hummingbird is a master of survival in some of...

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together , we’re joined by birder Ryan Shostack to talk about the incredible Black-backed Woodpecker—and how birding can be more inclusive for everyone. The Black-backed Woodpecker is a fascinating species known for its unique relationship with burned forests, and Ryan shares his firsthand experiences seeing this bird multiple times in the wild. We explore its...

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together , we’re diving into stories about two fascinating (and very different) blackbirds: the Rusty Blackbird and the Brown-headed Cowbird. The Rusty Blackbird is one of the fastest-declining bird species in North America , and we explore what makes this bird so unique, and RJ and Amanda's recent sighting of them. Then we shift to the Brown-headed Cowbir...

Learn about the Green Heron, one of the only birds known to use tools to hunt, and how it uses bait to catch fish. This birding and birdwatching podcast explores heron behavior, wetland habitats, and surprising bird intelligence for beginners and experts alike.  We also share a really special moment—RJ and Amanda came across a Green Heron nest and got to see a group of baby herons up close, which...

Learn about Long-Eared Owls, one of the most fascinating owl species in birding, and why they gather in massive communal roosts. This birdwatching podcast breaks down owl behavior, migration, and ecology for beginners and experts alike. This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together , we’re diving into one of the most mysterious and underrated owls out there—the Long-eared Owl . Known for its secre...

A rare Spectacled Eider showed up far outside its Arctic range—and birders took notice. Learn about eiders, migration patterns, and rare bird sightings in this birding podcast episode. A rare Spectacled Eider sighting in the Netherlands —far outside its normal Arctic range—sparked this week’s episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together. In this episode, we explore all four living species of eiders...

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together , we’re joined by Dr. Nick Mason , Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and Curator of Birds at the Museum of Natural Science at LSU, for an in-depth and engaging conversation all about the fascinating Horned Lark . Widely regarded as one of the world’s leading experts on Horned Larks, Nick brings incredible insight into this un...

Can birdwatching actually improve brain health or slow aging? We explore the science, what research says, and how observing birds may benefit cognition and mental wellness. We came across a recent article suggesting that birdwatching might actually help slow the aging process , and naturally we had to dig into it. As it turns out, tracking down the original scientific paper isn’t exactly easy, whi...

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together , we’re diving into the subtle but fascinating world of the Eastern Wood-Pewee —one of North America’s most recognizable (yet often overlooked) flycatchers. Known for its iconic “pee-a-wee” call echoing through eastern forests, the Eastern Wood-Pewee is a bird that many people hear long before they ever see. With the pewee fresh on their minds, Field M...

Learn about the Black-billed Magpie, one of the most intelligent birds in North America, and how its behavior, social structure, and problem-solving abilities make it stand out among corvids. This birding and birdwatching podcast explores magpie behavior, habitat, and intelligence for beginners and experts alike. In this episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together , we’re diving deep into the rema...

Acorn Woodpeckers have one of the strangest behaviors in birding—storing thousands of acorns in trees. Learn how this impacts survival, social structure, and evolution. This week, we’re diving into one of North America’s most unforgettable birds: the Acorn Woodpecker . After spotting Acorn Woodpeckers near the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, RJ couldn’t stop thinking about these bold, clown-faced birds—and...

This week, we’re diving into one of the strangest and most unforgettable birds in the world : the Calfbird . Found in the forests of northern South America, this bizarre species is famous for its bald head, striking blue skin, and an otherworldly call that sounds like a chainsaw . Even wilder? The Calfbird produces that sound using a mechanism similar to how a bullfrog vocalizes—making it a true s...

Discover the beauty and biology of the Cedar Waxwing , one of North America’s most elegant songbirds, in this week’s episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together . Join hosts and Field Museum ornithologists John Bates and Shannon Hackett along with RJ Pole and Amanda Pole as they explore Cedar Waxwing identification, behavior, habitat, and the fascinating feather structure that creates the bird’s s...

Welcome to the first new episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together in 2026! After wrapping up our duck series, we're kicking off the new year by looking back at some of the biggest science stories of 2025 and sharing what we're most excited to follow in 2026. Each of us brings a favorite scientific discovery, breakthrough, or research story to the table, leading to a wide-ranging conve...

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together , we revisit one of our favorite episodes: the incredible Wood Duck. Known for its stunning colors, unique nesting behavior, and one of the greatest conservation comeback stories in North America, the Wood Duck is one of the most recognizable and fascinating ducks in birding. From their iridescent plumage to their unusual habit of nesting in tree cavit...

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together , we revisit one of our all-time favorite duck episodes featuring the incredible Harlequin Duck—one of the most striking and resilient waterfowl in North America. Known for their bold plumage, fast-flowing mountain stream nesting sites, and rugged coastal winter habitats, Harlequin Ducks are among the most fascinating ducks in birding. These adventurou...