Birds of a Feather Talk Together – Details, episodes & analysis
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Birds of a Feather Talk Together
John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, Amanda Marquart
Frequency: 1 episode/7d. Total Eps: 152
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.
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See allScore global : 58%
Publication history
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119: Spoon-billed Sandpiper - One Of The Rarest Birds On Earth - Story of Convergence
Episode 119
lundi 17 novembre 2025 • Duration 32:37
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 love a good convergent evolution story. Two completely unrelated birds… both evolving their own version of a spoon-shaped bill. Nature never misses.
In this episode, we go deeper:
• How the spoon-billed sandpiper lives
• Why this critically endangered species is so incredibly rare
• The conservation challenges pushing it to the brink
• And what makes this small shorebird so endlessly remarkable
Join married couple Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett, curators of birds at Chicago’s world-renowned Field Museum, along with RJ Pole, and his wife Amanda, as we unpack the science, stories, and pure wonder behind the spoon-billed sandpiper.
Whether you’re a birder, nature lover, museum nerd, or curious listener, this episode is packed with insights into one of the most unique birds on Earth.
Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:
118: Golden Eagle Explained: One of the Fastest & Most Powerful Birds of Prey
Episode 118
lundi 10 novembre 2025 • Duration 35:21
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’s episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together! Married ornithologists Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett from Chicago’s Field Museum join hosts RJ Pole and Amanda Pole, who recently spotted Golden Eagles during their honeymoon in Arizona, to share insights about these majestic hunters of the sky.
From breathtaking aerial speed to nesting habits and migration routes, we explore what makes this bird one of the most awe-inspiring birds in the world. Plus, we dive into listener feedback on John’s Olive-sided Flycatcher episode — a fan favorite that continues to inspire birders everywhere!
Tune in for stories of love, science, and soaring wings.
🎧 Birds of a Feather Talk Together — where ornithology meets storytelling, every week.
Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:
109: Olive-sided Flycatcher - John Makes His Case For His Favorite Bird!
Episode 109
lundi 1 septembre 2025 • Duration 36:37
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-forth makes for some fun bird talk you won’t want to miss.
As newer birders, Amanda and RJ are curious to learn what sets the olive-sided flycatcher apart—its distinctive call, migratory habits, and the reasons birdwatchers look forward to spotting it. If you’re interested in birdwatching tips, ornithology insights, or just love hearing about fascinating bird species, this episode will give you a deeper appreciation for one of the most intriguing flycatchers.
Join us for expert knowledge, lively debate, and plenty of birding inspiration!
#OliveSidedFlycatcher #Birdwatching #BirdingPodcast #Ornithology #BirdsOfNorthAmerica #BirdingLife #BirdLovers #BirdTalk #BirdConservation #BirdNerds
Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:
21: Hawaiian Honeycreepers with Jacob Drucker - Part 1
Episode 21
lundi 27 novembre 2023 • Duration 29:57
John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart interview Jacob Drucker this week to discuss Hawaiian Honeycreepers.
Jacob Drucker is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Chicago and the Field Museum studying how birds interact with tropical climates over ecological and evolutionary time. He has spent over a year in Hawaii working with the Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project, as a regular volunteer with the Department of Land and Natural Resources on the Big Island, and as a guide for Victor Emmanuel Nature Tours. His photos have been featured in the American Birding Association’s field guide to Birds of Hawaii.
This is part 1 of a 2-part episode. Next week we will release the second part of this interview.
Email us your questions at podcast.birdsofafeather@gmail.com
Follow us on Instagram for pictures of the birds we discuss, specimen, and more info! @birds_of_a_feather_podcast
Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:
20: Wild Turkey - Conservation success, magnificent feathers, sexual dimorphism
Episode 20
lundi 20 novembre 2023 • Duration 27:19
We have a Thanksgiving special this week as we discuss the Wild Turkey. These birds are a major conservation success story, hear all about it in this weeks episode. We also talk about John seeing a turkey in the Democratic Republic of Congo, how turkeys got their name, and learn all about their magnificent feathers. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart for Birds of a Feather Talk Together.
This week we are also joined by Jacob Drucker. Jacob Drucker is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Chicago and the Field Museum studying how birds interact with tropical climates over ecological and evolutionary time. Next week we will talk Hawaiian Honeycreepers with Jacob, but this week we invited him to talk turkey with us for Thanksgiving.
Email us your questions at podcast.birdsofafeather@gmail.com
Follow us on Instagram for pictures of the birds we discuss, specimen, and more info! @birds_of_a_feather_podcast
Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:
Teaser: Sticker Giveaway + Update on New Episodes
vendredi 10 novembre 2023 • Duration 01:38
New episodes coming soon. In the meantime, who wants free stickers?
We will announce rules to the sticker giveaway on our Instagram on Monday. Follow us @birds_of_a_feather_podcast
Thanks!!
Birds of a Feather Talk Together Podcast
One of the best new podcasts available. Also called the best bird podcast.
Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:
19: Ravens - How Smart Are Birds? Using Tools and Imitating Calls
Episode 19
lundi 30 octobre 2023 • Duration 20:22
Happy Halloween! Today we cover one of the smartest birds that also happens to be associated with death and overall spookiness: The Raven. They know how to use tools, can impersonate other birds, and possibly could even say the word "Nevermore"... Hear all about Ravens in this week's episode. John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart discuss Ravens.
Email us your questions at podcast.birdsofafeather@gmail.com
Follow us on Instagram for pictures of the birds we discuss, specimen, and more info! @birds_of_a_feather_podcast
One of the best new podcasts available. Also called the best bird podcast.
Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:
18: Shoebills: The Massive African Bird That Terrifies the Internet 🦤
Episode 18
lundi 23 octobre 2023 • Duration 23:37
This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we explore one of the most viral and unforgettable birds on the planet: the Shoebill.
Known for its enormous shoe-shaped bill, towering size, piercing stare, and almost prehistoric appearance, the Shoebill has become an internet sensation among birders, wildlife lovers, and curious viewers around the world. But beyond the memes and viral videos, these mysterious African birds are some of the most fascinating predators in the bird world.
In this episode, Field Museum ornithologists and curators of birds John Bates and Shannon Hackett join RJ and Amanda Marquart to discuss Shoebill behavior, African wetland habitats, bird evolution, hunting strategies, folklore, and what makes these birds feel almost dinosaur-like.
John also shares what it was like to see a Shoebill in the wild—an unforgettable birding experience involving one of the most unusual birds on Earth.
We dive into how Shoebills hunt, why they remain so motionless, their strange vocalizations, and why their intimidating appearance has inspired myths and fascination for decades.
If you love birding, birdwatching, African birds, weird animals, giant birds, bird behavior, ornithology, wildlife science, and fascinating bird facts, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:
17: Bloodsucking Birds! Vampire Finches, Oxpeckers, and Egyptian Plovers - Oh my!
Episode 17
lundi 9 octobre 2023 • Duration 23:46
Spooky season is officially here, as we get together to talk about Bloodsucking Birds. There is an event at The Field Museum in Chicago later this month that is about bloodsuckers of all kinds, so we decided to release an episode all about bloodsucking birds. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart as we discuss Vampire Finches, Oxpeckers, and the myth that Flamingos feed blood to their young.
We also answer a question from one of our listeners on pigeons.
Email us your questions at podcast.birdsofafeather@gmail.com
Follow us in Instagram for pictures of the birds, specimen, and more info! @birds_of_a_feather_podcast
Enjoy!!!!
One of the best new podcasts available. Also called the best bird podcast.
Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:
16: Bird Collisions in Chicago - Nearly 1,000 Birds Die In A Single Night
Episode 16
lundi 9 octobre 2023 • Duration 20:38
You've probably seen it on the news, but hear what John and Shannon have to say about the recent migration collision in Chicago. Last week Chicago had one of the largest migration nights ever, totaling what could have been 1 million birds in a single night. Unfortunately, this resulted in almost 1,000 birds colliding with buildings and dying. Hear about what caused this, what we can do to stop it from happening, and where building collisions ranks among other mass-casualties of birds (do you think its more or less than deaths from cats?)
Email us your questions at podcast.birdsofafeather@gmail.com
Follow us in Instagram for pictures of the birds, specimen, and more info! @birds_of_a_feather_podcast
Enjoy!!!!
Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:
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