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PODCAST

Birds of a Feather Talk Together

John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, Amanda Marquart

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

science nature

All Episodes

31:49

138: Why Long-Eared Owls Roost in HUGE Groups 🦉 |...

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2026/04/06

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 secretive behavior and incredible camouflage, this owl is a true master of staying hidden… until you kno...

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65:02

137: Eiders - Spectacled, Common, King, Steller's,...

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2026/03/30

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—from the iconic Common Eider to the stunning King and Spectacled Eiders. Along the way, we break down what makes these Arctic ducks so unique, from their extreme cold-weather adaptations to their fascinating breeding behavior. We’re also kicking off our March Madness-style bird bra...

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60:46

136: Horned Larks with Nick Mason

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2026/03/23

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 unique grassland bird—from its behavior and evolution to what makes it so special among North American...

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22:39

135: Can Birdwatching Help to Slow Aging? We discuss...

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2026/03/16

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, which led us into a fun exploration of what the research actually says—and what it might mean. Along the way, the conversation took a really personal turn as Shannon shared her experience with her cochlear implant and what it’s been like to relearn how to hear the world aga...

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25:21

134: Eastern Wood Pewee - So Exciting That We Had A...

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2026/03/09

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 Museum ornithologists John Bates and Shannon Hackett join RJ and Amanda to explore what makes this b...

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29:15

133: Black-billed Magpie Revisited

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2026/03/01

In this episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we’re diving deep into the remarkable world of the Black-billed Magpie—one of North America’s most intelligent and visually striking birds. Hosts RJ Pole and Amanda Pole share firsthand stories from their time living in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where encounters with Black-billed Magpies were part of everyday life. Known for their bold personalities, problem-solving skills, and dazzling black-and-white plumage with iridescent blue-g...

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36:52

132: Acorn Woodpeckers - Hoarding Hundreds of Pounds...

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2026/02/23

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 for good reason. Known for their incredible food-storage behavior, some Acorn Woodpeckers have been documented hoarding hundreds of pounds of acorns, drilling thousands of perfectly spaced holes into trees, utility poles, and even the sides of people’s homes. It’s o...

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38:03

131: Calfbird - Bald Blue Heads - Sounds Like A...

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2026/02/16

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 standout in avian biology and animal sound production. Join married ornithologists John Bates and Sha...

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24:01

130: Cedar Waxwing

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2026/02/09

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 signature wax-like wing tips. Learn why Cedar Waxwings travel in flocks, what they eat, where to fin...

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64:49

129: Top Science Stories of 2025

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2026/02/02

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 favorite science story from 2025 to the table, along with a look ahead at what we’re most excited about in 2026. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Pole for a wide-ranging conversation. We talk about juncos, robots in science, and how new resea...

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63:28

128: Wood Duck Revisited

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2026/01/26

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, the Wood Duck is one of North America’s most iconic ducks. Join us as we look back at this fan-favorite episode and close out our duck deep dive in style. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Pole to discuss the Wood Duck. Here are links to our ...

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32:34

127: Harlequin Duck Revisited

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2026/01/19

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. Known for nesting along fast-flowing mountain streams and spending winters on rugged, wave-battered coastlines, the harlequin duck is a true marvel of adaptation. From its bold plumage to its extreme habitat choices, this species never fails to amaze birders, ornitholog...

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41:36

126: Mallard Revisited

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2026/01/12

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 North America’s most familiar and recognizable waterfowl. From seasonal sexual dimorphism and those iconic iridescent speculum stripes, to how Mallards differ from other duck species, we explore what makes this bird so unique and adaptable. Join John Bates, Shannon Ha...

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57:14

125: LISTERS! - Movie Review! Plus a WILD Botfly story

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2026/01/05

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 an absolute blast talking about it, laughed pretty much the entire time, and highly recommend you watch along with us. Even better? LISTERS is free to watch on YouTube, so it’s easy to queue up and join the fun. In addition to our movie discussion, we’re diving...

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32:38

124: Snowy Owl - Chicago Sightings, Irruption, and...

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2025/12/22

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 those species that gets everyone — even the non-birders — buzzing with excitement. We also answer a li...

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45:29

123: White-throated Sparrow Revisited

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2025/12/15

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 Pole as we explore what makes this species so unique—and why sparrows are often tricky to identify. We discuss sparrow identification, focusing on how behavior, song, and movement patterns can be just as important as plumage when telling species apart. The conversation...

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69:06

122: Flamingos with Ellen Weatherford

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2025/12/08

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 of the most iconic birds out there. From their wild social lives to their unbelievable color and bio...

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33:52

121: Varied Thrush - The Lone Forest Dweller AND The...

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2025/12/01

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 when a Varied Thrush recently showed up all the way in New York. So today, we’re talking a lot abou...

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26:01

120: Mourning Dove Revisited

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2025/11/24

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, one of North America’s most familiar and fascinating backyard birds. Fun fact: mourning doves can store an unbelievable amount of food in a specialized throat pouch before flying off somewhere cozy to digest it… which, honestly, sounds exactly like our Thanksgiving plans. I...

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32:37

119: Spoon-billed Sandpiper - One Of The Rarest Birds...

Birds of a Feather Talk Together ·

2025/11/17

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 versi...

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142 results

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