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Bird Conservation
The Feather Thief
Climate Change
Field Museum
Migration
Birding
White-Throated Sparrow
Brown-Headed Cowbird
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Birds
Hoatzin
Christmas Bird Count
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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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes153Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationNatureScience

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Artwork for Birds of a Feather Talk Together

Latest Episodes

We're officially back with a brand-new episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together!

After a short break, the full crew returns to catch up on birding adventures, international travel, spring migration, and some exciting personal updates. Field Museu... more

YouTube

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're revisiting one of the most extraordinary birds we've ever covered—and the official winner of our 2026 Bird of the Year tournament: the Club-winged Manakin.

While we're getting ready to return with... more

YouTube

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're revisiting one of our favorite interviews with legendary birder Peter Kaestner—the first person in history to see more than 10,000 bird species in the wild.

While John continues his birding advent... more

YouTube

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're revisiting one of our favorite episodes about the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher—one of North America's smallest, busiest, and most beloved songbirds.

While John is off birding in New Zealand and Australia... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

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
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
Peter Kaestner
The first person in history to see over 10,000 bird species in the wild.
Episode: 98: Peter Kaestner: The First Birder to See 10,000 Bird Species in the Wild 🐦
Jason Weckstein
Associate Curator of Ornithology at the Academy of Natural Sciences and Associate Professor at Drexel University.
Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
Episode: 78: The Feather Thief Part 3: Fly-tying with guest Jason Weckstein
Kirk Wallace Johnson
Author of 'The Feather Thief'
Episode: 75: The Feather Thief Prologue - Quick Listen Prior to Starting The Mini-Series :)

Hosts

John Bates
Field Museum ornithologist and curator; regular host and science communicator
Shannon Hackett
Co-host; field museum curator of birds; experienced ornithologist and researcher
RJ Pole
Co-host; birding enthusiast; active in field observations and community discussions
Amanda Pole
Co-host; birding enthusiast; helps expand audience through community engagement

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 103 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 States2 months ago
  • Love this podcast!

    Always a great listen and full of good info!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    13degreesphotography
    United States2 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 States3 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 States5 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 States5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The mix of expert insight and approachable storytelling resonates with both new and experienced birders.
Listeners praise the casual, unscripted feel and genuine passion from hosts.
Many appreciate the sense of community and real-world field observations from the Field Museum team.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#44
United States/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#172
United Kingdom/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#85
Australia/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#12
Taiwan/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#21
Norway/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#35
South Korea/Science/Nature

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
136: Horned Larks with Nick Mason
Q: How did you start with horned larks, and what drew you to this species?
Nick explains that his interest began with a summer internship leading to a graduate project, working on horned larks at UC Berkeley and the Channel Islands, and evolving into ongoing, multi-project research on population connectivity and adaptation.
127: Harlequin Ducks: The Stunning Duck Built for Wild Rivers & Ocean Waves 🦆
Q: How far does a crow or murder go to forage?
Crows may travel far distances to find food, as highlighted in the context of smaller groups forming before their large roosts to ensure they have adequate foraging opportunities.
120: Why Mourning Doves Are EVERYWHERE (And What Makes Them So Unique) | Birding Explained
Q: Do they mate for life?
There is no evidence of extra pair fertilizations in Mourning Doves, but they might change mates if necessary due to short lifespans.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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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?

Birds of a Feather Talk Together offers approachable, conversation-driven birding content that blends field science with real-life observations. Listeners hear expert ornithologists from a major natural history institution alongside dedicated amateur birders, exploring behavior, migration, identification, songs, and conservation through lively banter, personal anecdotes, and audience questions. Episodes span from species-specific deep dives to broader debates in evolution, genomics, and habitat, all delivered in a warm, inclusive style that welcomes beginners while still offering depth for seasoned birders. A standout trait is the collaborative dynamic between scientists and enthusiasts, which keeps explanations accessible without sacrifici... 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. The Warblers by Birds Canada
4. Okay, But... Birds
5. Nature Guys

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

Birds of a Feather Talk Together launched 3 years ago and published 153 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. Ryan Shostack
2. Nick Mason
3. Ellen Weatherford
4. RJ Pole
5. Amanda Marquart
6. Jenna McCullough
7. Peter Kaestner
8. Jason Weckstein

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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