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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 ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes163Founded3 years ago
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NatureEducationScience

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Artwork for Birds of a Feather Talk Together

Latest Episodes

We're wrapping up our summer break with a revisit to one of North America's most iconic birds: the Common Loon!

We'll be back next week with brand-new episodes, but before we do, we're heading back to one of our favorite conversations about this unm... more

YouTube

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're revisiting one of our favorite episodes about one of North America's most beloved backyard birds: the Black-capped Chickadee.

While we're taking a short summer break, we wanted to bring back this ... more

YouTube

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're revisiting one of our most unforgettable episodes: the Alpine Accentor.

While we're taking a short summer break, we couldn't resist bringing back this fascinating conversation about a bird that ha... more

YouTube

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we dive into the fascinating world of the Baltimore Oriole—one of North America's most beautiful and recognizable songbirds.

Famous for their brilliant orange-and-black plumage, rich, flute-like songs, ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Christian Flores
Zoologist and science communicator, Crikey It's Christian
Independent science communicator
Episode: 150: California Condors with Christian Flores - The Incredible Comeback of North America's Largest Bird 🦅
Louise Bott
Birding researcher; discussed European goldfinches in Australia and New Zealand
University-affiliated researcher; their work on European goldfinches
Episode: 149: Birding Australia, New Zealand & Beyond + Shannon’s Cochlear Implant Update 🐦🌏
Ryan Shostack
Bird enthusiast advocating for inclusive birding
Independent researcher/birding enthusiast
Episode: 141: Black-backed Woodpeckers with Ryan Shostack And Making Birding More Inclusive
Nick Mason
Assistant professor, Department of Biological Sciences and curator of birds at the Museum of Natural Sciences, LSU
Louisiana State University
Episode: 136: Horned Larks with Nick Mason
Ellen Weatherford
Host of Just the Zoo of Us, where animals are rated and reviewed.
Just the Zoo of Us
Episode: 122: Flamingos with Ellen Weatherford
Kirk Wallace Johnson
Author of The Feather Thief, engaging speaker and storyteller
Episode: 114: The Feather Thief with Kirk Wallace Johnson - Revisited
RJ Pole
Episode: 110: Red-headed Woodpecker - Catching Bugs Out Of The Sky + Paddleboard Sightings
Amanda Marquart
Episode: 110: Red-headed Woodpecker - Catching Bugs Out Of The Sky + Paddleboard Sightings
Jenna McCullough
Bird expert and researcher specializing in Kingfishers
Episode: 104: Guam Kingfishers: The Bird That Went Extinct in the Wild — And May Come Back 🐦 with Jenna Mccullough

Hosts

John Bates
Host and Field Museum ornithologist
Shannon Hackett
Host and Field Museum ornithologist
Amanda Pole
Host and birding enthusiast
RJ Pole
Birding enthusiast co-host

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 106 ratings
  • Great Podcast

    I’m only about 4 years into birding and I love the open conversation and knowledge shared in the podcast. Im in the Chicagoland area so it nice you guys are close to home!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Moments of gratitude 75
    United States4 months ago
  • Love this podcast!

    Always a great listen and full of good info!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    13degreesphotography
    United States4 months ago
  • Great all around talk show style podcast

    I love your podcast! It feels as though I’m just a fly on the wall of y’all just chatting about what comes to mind when it comes to life and birds. It feels very unscripted and has a very genuine style. Have a great one and keep up the amazing work! Thanks so much!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Robertchunt
    United States5 months ago
  • Birds! Birds! Birds!

    I love how the show starts off talking about a species but questions come up along the way about ornithology in general. Very cool show 🪶

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    kSpence2019
    United States7 months ago
  • Fun listen

    Fun discussions, information for new and experienced birders from experts and ‘normal’ birding enthusiasts. I look forward to new episodes showing up.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    STLbirder
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Quality science content delivered in an approachable way attracts both beginners and seasoned birders.
Listeners praise the casual, unscripted vibe and genuine passion for birds.
The Field Museum connection and guest variety are recurrent strengths that keep discussions fresh.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#111
United States/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#239
Canada/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#87
Australia/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#146
Italy/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#6
South Korea/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#36
Belgium/Science/Nature

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

150: California Condors with Christian Flores - The Incredible Comeback of North America's Largest Bird 🦅
Q: If you signed up for a bird tour, is there a chance to see California condors in the wild, or are they still rare to spot?
There are places where viewing is more likely, like Vermilion Cliffs or Pinnacles; however, sightings are not guaranteed and depend on location and timing, making wild condor watching a special experience.
150: California Condors with Christian Flores - The Incredible Comeback of North America's Largest Bird 🦅
Q: Very cool. So Christian, I had just a question about when they would take the egg from the mother so she would lay another egg. Was that egg mechanically incubated?
Yes. The eggs were incubated in machines, kept warm, rotated regularly, and the chicks were raised with careful schedules and adult birds to teach them natural behavior before release.
149: Birding Australia, New Zealand & Beyond + Shannon’s Cochlear Implant Update 🐦🌏
Q: How closely related are Ruby Crown Kinglets and Golden Crown Kinglets, and why might one species be sexually dimorphic while the other is not?
The two species are not the closest relatives and belong to different lineages within the broader kinglet family; both exhibit sexual dimorphism, but the degree and visibility of the crown coloration can vary, with different species showing distinct patterns that can help in field identification during the breeding season.
146: Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers: The Tiny Bird That's Always on the Move 🐦
Q: Is there a real difference between vultures and condors, and how are they related?
Vultures are a broad behavioral category, not a strict evolutionary group, while condors are a specific lineage within the New World vulture clade; their relationships are complex, with convergent habits but distinct evolutionary paths.
141: Black-backed Woodpeckers with Ryan Shostack And Making Birding More Inclusive
Q: What would you like to see happen to make birding more inclusive?
I want birding communities to be truly open to everyone, autistic or not, and to actively involve people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, women, and men in a way that removes gatekeeping and makes participation feasible for people with varying abilities and comfort levels.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Birds of a Feather Talk Together

What is Birds of a Feather Talk Together about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A blend of expert ornithology and real-world birding hobbyist insight makes this show approachable for newcomers while delivering depth on behavior, migration, identification, and conservation. Episodes span California condor recovery, international birding travels, rare species, and museum-grade context, all delivered through casual, curiosity-driven conversations that feel like a table‑top discussion among colleagues. A standout is the ongoing Field Museum connection, pairing researchers with passionate amateurs to explore topics from tool-using birds to taxonomic debates, making science engaging and highly accessible to a broad audience.

Listeners may find it especially appealing if they enjoy thoughtful nerding-out about birds, seasona... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Birds of a Feather Talk Together?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Birds of a Feather Talk Together:

1. The American Birding Podcast
2. The Science of Birds
3. Life List: A Birding Podcast
4. Okay, But... Birds
5. BirdNote Daily

How many episodes of Birds of a Feather Talk Together are there?

Birds of a Feather Talk Together launched 3 years ago and published 163 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Birds of a Feather Talk Together?

Recent guests on Birds of a Feather Talk Together include:

1. Christian Flores
2. Louise Bott
3. Ryan Shostack
4. Nick Mason
5. Ellen Weatherford
6. Kirk Wallace Johnson
7. RJ Pole
8. Amanda Marquart

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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