Birds of a Feather Talk Together

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...

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together , we kick off the year with a hilarious and fun-filled conversation about LISTERS —our favorite birding movie of the year. If you love birding, birdwatching, birders, and the wonderfully obsessive world of listing bird species, this documentary is an absolute must-watch. We laughed through almost the entire episode while discussing the film, the person...

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’ve been anywhere near bird-Twitter or the local news, you may have heard about the pair of Snowy Owls in Chicago. These birds are stunning, unmistakable, and one of thos...

Learn how to identify the White-throated Sparrow by its song, behavior, and movement patterns, and discover why this common bird has two distinct morphs with different personalities. This birding and birdwatching podcast explores sparrow identification, bird behavior, and fascinating new research for beginners and experts alike. In this episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together , we revisit one...

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 chat with us about the bird of her choice. She came back with flamingos —and boy, were we thrilled. It turned into such a bright, lively, surprisingly deep conversation about one o...

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 the understory. These birds are usually right at home along the West Coast, from Alaska down through northern California… which is why things got very interesting w...

Learn about Mourning Doves, one of the most common birds in North America, and why their behavior, calls, and breeding habits make them so unique. This birding and birdwatching podcast breaks down dove behavior, ecology, and identification for beginners and experts alike. 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 ep...

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. If you caught our recent YouTube video where John compared a Roseate Spoonbill at the Field Museum to the delicate spoon-billed sandpiper specimen, you already know we lo...

Learn about the Golden Eagle, one of the fastest and most powerful birds of prey in North America, and how it hunts with incredible speed and precision. This birding and birdwatching podcast explores eagle behavior, migration, and raptor ecology for beginners and experts alike.  The Golden Eagle — one of North America’s largest, fastest, and most powerful raptors — takes center stage in this week’...

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 focusing on a fascinating species — the palm-nut vulture . This is a bird John has been eager to highlight, and once you learn more about it, it’s easy to see why. Found in Africa...

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 waterbirds. From their red eyes and black-and-white plumage to their incredible diving and parenting skills, loons are true masters of life on the water. Grab a cu...

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 Downy Woodpecker and the Hairy Woodpecker . Whether you’re a new bird watcher trying to tell these two apart, or an experienced birder curious about their unique behaviors a...

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 into the mysterious world of loons —we’re revisiting one of our most popular interviews from last year. In this replay, your hosts John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole,...

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 to see this bird—so if Peter was that excited, you know it’s going to be a good one.  The Kirtland’s warbler has a fascinating story, from populations threatened by the...

Learn about the Brown-headed Cowbird, a unique bird known for brood parasitism—laying its eggs in other birds’ nests and letting them raise its young. This birding and birdwatching podcast explores cowbird behavior, nesting strategies, and the surprising science behind this controversial survival tactic. We’re revisiting our episode on the brown-headed cowbird, and trust me, this one’s a wild ride...

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 means for their survival in a rapidly warming world.  Understanding these effects is critical for shaping conservation strategies, and we can’t wait to learn more from Olivia...

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 talks about some molting mallards that he saw recently. Join RJ, Amanda, John, and Shannon this week to talk about the Red-headed Woodpecker!  Here are some...

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 favorites. But not everyone agrees—his co-host (and wife) Shannon, also an ornithologist, isn’t convinced it’s such an exciting choice. Their playful back-and-fort...

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together , the full crew—Field Museum ornithologists John Bates and Shannon Hackett alongside RJ and Amanda Pole—dives into the fascinating world of the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, one of North America’s smallest and most energetic songbirds. This week’s bird pick comes from Amanda, who shares why the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is one of her absolute favorite birds. Know...

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 right now—stop what you’re doing and google it. Trust us, you’ll be amazed. The club-winged manakin doesn’t sing with its voice. Instead, it makes a bizarre, almost robot-lik...

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 researcher at the University of Kentucky and soon to begin a prestigious National Science Foundation fellowship at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and UCLA, Jenna...

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together , we open up the mailbag and answer listener bird questions from across North America. Why are so many birds gathering in roadside water in Florida? What’s going on with house sparrows and crows interacting in suburban Pennsylvania neighborhoods? In this fun and wide-ranging birding episode, we tackle real bird behavior questions submitted by listeners...

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together , we’re joined by ornithologist Jenna McCullough for a fascinating conversation about one of the rarest and most endangered birds in the world: the Guam Kingfisher. Once extinct in the wild, the Guam Kingfisher has become a powerful symbol of bird conservation, captive breeding, and the fight to restore endangered species back to their native habitats....

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together , John is back from his unforgettable trip to Peru , and we’ve got plenty to talk about! From the incredible bird species he encountered to the vibrant landscapes, John shares highlights and stories from his adventure. We also dive into one of the most distinctive birds of the region — the Inca Tern — famous for its striking mustache and bold personali...

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together , we explore the fascinating world of the Laughing Kookaburra—Australia’s iconic “laughing bird” known for one of the most recognizable bird calls on Earth. Joining us is ornithologist Jenna McCullough, a third-generation birder with a PhD in Biology from the University of New Mexico. Jenna is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Ke...