Birds of a Feather Talk Together – Details, episodes & analysis
Podcast details
Technical and general information from the podcast's RSS feed.
Birds of a Feather Talk Together
John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, Amanda Marquart
Frequency: 1 episode/8d. Total Eps: 108
Join John Bates and Shannon Hackett, two seasoned bird experts, as they soar through the fascinating world of birds in this must-listen podcast for bird lovers of all levels! Whether you're an experienced birder or just starting to explore the wonders of the avian world, Birds of a Feather Talk Together has something for everyone.
With exclusive access to one of the largest bird collections in the United States, John and Shannon are joined by amateur birders RJ Pole and Amanda Marquart for in-depth discussions on exotic, rare, extinct, and common birds from around the globe. From the tiniest sparrows to the mighty eagles, no feathered friend is left out.
Each episode brings exciting stories, expert insights, and birding tips—perfect for anyone who has ever been fascinated by the beauty, behavior, and mysteries of birds. Whether you're a lifelong bird watcher or a beginner looking to learn more, this podcast will inspire you to discover new species, dive into bird conservation, and learn from the pros!
Why Listen?
- Discover rare and exotic bird species you never knew existed.
- Get insider tips from top bird experts on identifying and spotting birds.
- Learn about bird conservation efforts and the latest in avian research.
- A perfect podcast for beginners and experienced birders alike.
Hit subscribe now and start your journey into the incredible world of birds—one chirp at a time!
Recent rankings
Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.
Apple Podcasts
🇨🇦 Canada - nature
02/08/2025#87🇺🇸 USA - nature
02/08/2025#95🇨🇦 Canada - nature
01/08/2025#69🇨🇦 Canada - nature
31/07/2025#56🇨🇦 Canada - nature
30/07/2025#47🇨🇦 Canada - nature
29/07/2025#32🇩🇪 Germany - nature
28/07/2025#97🇺🇸 USA - nature
28/07/2025#83🇨🇦 Canada - nature
27/07/2025#96🇩🇪 Germany - nature
27/07/2025#78
Spotify
No recent rankings available
Shared links between episodes and podcasts
Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.
See allRSS feed quality and score
Technical evaluation of the podcast's RSS feed quality and structure.
See allScore global : 58%
Publication history
Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.
55: Peg-billed Finch - Elusive bird from Costa Rica, Shannon and John's experience with them
Episode 55
lundi 26 août 2024 • Duration 31:13
A bird that not very many people have seen in the wild, but it turns out that Shannon and John have seen a lot of them. They are native to Costa Rica, and only come out when the bamboo is flowering - which is not very often. Hear all about Shannon and John's trip to Costa Rica and learn more about these amazing little birds.
We also answer a listener question on birds and government spies.
John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart discuss the Peg-billed Finch in this week's episode.
Please send us your questions for us to answer as well! You can send them to podcast.birdsofafeather@gmail.com
Make sure to follow us on instagram and tik tok as well!!
Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:
54: Black-billed Magpie - Fighting cats, bird funerals, and interactions with humans
Episode 54
lundi 19 août 2024 • Duration 29:15
Discover the Fascinating Black-Billed Magpie – A Deep Dive into These Intelligent, Exotic Birds
In this exciting episode, RJ Pole and Amanda Marquart share their personal experiences with Black-billed Magpies from their time living in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. These incredible birds are known for their intelligence, striking appearance, and unique behaviors.
Join bird experts John Bates and Shannon Hackett as they provide insightful facts and fascinating information about the Black-billed Magpie, one of North America's most captivating species. From their smart problem-solving abilities to their beautiful plumage, this episode covers everything you need to know about these exotic birds.
Plus, don't miss our special segment where we answer a fun listener question about Wombat poop vs. bird poop!
Tune in now for an informative and fun-filled episode about Black-billed Magpies, with expert insights from our bird-loving hosts.
Please send us your questions for us to answer as well! You can send them to podcast.birdsofafeather@gmail.com
Make sure to follow us on instagram and tik tok as well!!
Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:
46: Cicadas with Maureen Turcatel - impact on birds, blue-eyed cicada, and fungus!
Episode 46
lundi 17 juin 2024 • Duration 50:15
This week is a little different as we aren't discussing a bird, but rather the cicada phenomenon happening in Illinois right now. Maureen Turcatel of the Field Museum joins us to talk about the two different broods of cicadas both happening at the same time (the 13 year cicada and the 17 year cicada). We talk about how this is impacting birds, the rare blue-eyed cicada, and also the fungus that is making cicadas hyper-sexual.
Maureen is an insect taxonomist and systematist, especially interested in the diversity and phylogeny of horse flies. Her research focuses on using museum specimens to perform revisionary work on horse flies. She is the collections manager of all insects at the Field Museum, so she was happy to jump on and answer all of our cicada questions, as well as talk about horseflies.
Maureen joined John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart for another episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together.
Please send us your questions for us to answer as well! You can send them to podcast.birdsofafeather@gmail.com
There was a cool segment on cicadas in the tv show The Americas with Tom Hanks, we hope this helps tell that story too!
Make sure to follow us on instagram and tik tok as well!!
Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:
45: Ruby-Throated Hummingbird - Also a question on feather iridescence and/or mutation
Episode 45
lundi 10 juin 2024 • Duration 36:00
Somehow it has taken us 45 episodes to get to our first hummingbird - but it's finally here! We have a ton of fun talking about the ruby-throated hummingbird today. John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart are all here for our hummingbird discussion. Enjoy!
Please send us your questions for us to answer as well! You can send them to podcast.birdsofafeather@gmail.com
Make sure to follow us on instagram and tik tok as well!!
Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:
44: House Wren, we also talk about The Archaeopteryx at the Field Museum
Episode 44
lundi 3 juin 2024 • Duration 34:17
This week we talk about the house wren, but first we talk a little bit about the newest addition to the Field Museum: The Archaeopteryx. A fossil called Archaeopteryx, with feathers, hollow bones, clawed wings, fifty tiny teeth, and a long bony tail, is the earliest known dinosaur that also qualifies as a bird.
The Chicago Archaeopteryx has the most complete skull of any Archaeopteryx fossil in the world.
We then talk about the House Wren - it's a super fun episode that you'll enjoy. House Wren are so amazing, it was so much fun to learn all about them.
Please send us your questions for us to answer as well! You can send them to podcast.birdsofafeather@gmail.com
Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:
43: Kirtland's Warbler - Back From the Endangered Species List, Connection to Leopold and Loeb?
Episode 43
lundi 27 mai 2024 • Duration 38:03
We talk about a bird that was majorly affected by the parasitic brown-headed cowbird so much that it was on the endangered species list for nearly 50 years. One of the rarest songbirds in North America, the Kirtland’s Warbler migrates back and forth from the Bahamas to Michigan every year. We also learn that this bird was studied back in the 1920’s by Nathan Leopold, one half of the murdering crime pair Leopold and Loeb.
Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart as we discuss the Kirtland's Warbler.
We kick it off talking about the Whooping Crane that was spotted in the northern Chicago suburbs. We also answer a mailbag question on using fake calls when looking for birds.
Please follow our instagram @birds_of_a_feather_podcast
Please send us your questions for us to answer as well! You can send them to podcast.birdsofafeather@gmail.com
Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:
42: Brown-Headed Cowbird - Laying eggs in someone else's nest
Episode 42
lundi 20 mai 2024 • Duration 32:33
Brown-headed cowbirds don't build nests - instead they sneak into other nests and lay their eggs and let other birds raise their young for them. Many consider them 'mafia' birds, as they will destroy another bird's nest if they aren't raising their young correctly. These parasitic birds will outgrow the other chicks in the nest, its kind of like a horror story! Hear all about these bizarre birds in this awesome episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together. John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart discuss the brown-headed cowbird.
Please follow our instagram @birds_of_a_feather_podcast
Please send us your questions for us to answer as well! You can send them to podcast.birdsofafeather@gmail.com
Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:
41: Wes Larson of Tooth and Claw Talks Southern Cassowaries and His Epic Australia Adventure
Episode 41
lundi 13 mai 2024 • Duration 50:35
In this electrifying episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we’re joined by none other than Wes Larson, the visionary behind Tooth and Claw, as he takes us on an unforgettable journey to Australia in search of one of the world's most elusive and fascinating birds—the Southern Cassowary. Known for its striking appearance and powerful presence, the Southern Cassowary is as mysterious as it is majestic. Wes shares his firsthand experience tracking this incredible bird in Australia and offers a glimpse into the wild world of conservation, birdwatching, and adventure.
Whether you're a seasoned birder or a wildlife enthusiast, this episode is packed with jaw-dropping insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and expert knowledge that will leave you inspired to embark on your own birdwatching adventures. Tune in for a fascinating conversation about what it’s like to witness one of nature’s true wonders up close, and learn why the Southern Cassowary is both a conservation success story and a reminder of the fragile beauty of our planet.
Don’t miss this exclusive interview with Wes Larson of Tooth and Claw—subscribe, listen, and join us in exploring the wild world of birds, one feathered friend at a time!
Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:
40: Blackpoll Warbler - Impressive Migration, Also More About Warblers...
Episode 40
dimanche 5 mai 2024 • Duration 45:36
Warbler season is officially here. We talk about the Blackpoll Warbler - the warbler with one of the longest and most impressive migration.
Enjoy!
Please follow our instagram @birds_of_a_feather_podcast
Please send us your questions for us to answer as well! You can send them to podcast.birdsofafeather@gmail.com
Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:
39: Bald Eagles - Massive Nests, Aerial Cartwheels, and Coming Back From DDT
Episode 39
lundi 29 avril 2024 • Duration 35:19
Bald Eagles are amazing - everyone knows it. We touch on everything from Benjamin Franklin, to how DDT decimated their population and the significant comeback that they've made, to their aerial cartwheel performances. It's a really fascinating episode, and we learn about the 'eagle suit' that Amanda's sister's dog wears so he doesn't get picked up by a bald eagle in his backyard.
Special thanks to photographer Dustin Weidner for suggesting that we do a Bald Eagle episode. Check out his photography on his instagram @chicago.wildlife.photography
If you have a question for us, send it to podcast.birdsofafeather@gmail.com
Check out our Insta and Tik-Tok for pictures!!
Thanks everyone!
Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:
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