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Tufted Puffin
Hawaiian Honeycreepers
Limpkin
European Goldfinch
Rock Pigeon
Hoatzin
Flame Bowerbird
Introduced Species
European Roller
Common Puffin
Mallard Duck
Limpkins
Conservation Efforts
Bird Anatomy
Mating Rituals
Bowers
Evolution
European Starling
Climate Change
Bird Evolution

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 acc... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes141Founded3 years ago
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ScienceLeisureNature

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Artwork for Birds of a Feather Talk Together

Latest Episodes

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 th... more

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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 ab... more

YouTube

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 exp... more

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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 thr... more

YouTube

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Number of Listeners
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Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The American Birding Podcast
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Just the Zoo of Us
Just the Zoo of UsEllen & Christian Weatherford

Recent Guests

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 Kingfisher with Jenna Mccullough
Peter Kaestner
The first person in history to see over 10,000 bird species in the wild.
Episode: 98: Peter Kaestner Interview - Seeing 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
Drexel University
Episode: 79: The Feather Thief Part 4: The Argus Pheasant and Jason Weckstein Joins Us Again!!
Kirk Wallace Johnson
Author of 'The Feather Thief'
Episode: 75: The Feather Thief Prologue - Quick Listen Prior to Starting The Mini-Series :)
Kevin Burns
Bird expert and researcher
California Academy of Sciences
Episode: 65: Wrentits with Kevin Burns

Hosts

John Bates
Curator of birds at the Field Museum; experienced ornithologist with deep museum access.
Shannon Hackett
Curator of birds at the Field Museum; experienced ornithologist and co-host.
RJ Pole
Birding enthusiast and co-host.
Amanda Pole
Birding enthusiast and co-host.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 94 ratings
  • 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 States2 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 States3 months ago
  • Olive-sided Flycatcher

    I am definitely relating to John’s pick for Olive-sided Flycatcher! That group of birds is so entertaining and interesting to watch. During my last visit to CO my favorite bird of the trip was the Cinnamon Flycatcher! Definitely not as showy as most of the birds, but a great bird for its diminutive size!

    I shouldn’t have abbreviated the country, Colombia! The Cinnamon Flycatcher’s range is in South America. Sorry for the confusion on my part.

    I have an additional comment to make about the Olive-... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CeceD.
    United States4 months ago
  • Olive-sided Flycatchers rule!

    This is a great podcast. Five stars, for sure. I wanted to write this review to say that John is correct. The Olive-sided Flycatcher is an amazing bird. Listening to it while backpacking out West in Idaho, Oregon, and Colorado was always a treat. Not only would I delight in its iconic “Quick! THREE beers” call, but whenever I heard it, I would look up and inevitably find one perched high on a bare branch of a dead tree. They are incredible to watch when they forage, sallying out expertly away fr... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Stosberg Drummer
    United States5 months ago
  • Olive-sided Flycatcher

    I am definitely relating to John’s pick for Olive-sided Flycatcher! That group of birds is so entertaining and interesting to watch. During my last visit to CO my favorite bird of the trip was the Cinnamon Flycatcher! Definitely not as showy as most of the birds, but a great bird for its diminutive size!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CeceD.
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Hosts provide a casual, conversational vibe with solid expertise
A roundtable that blends field observations with accessible natural history
Listeners praise approachable, broad discussions that still dive into specifics

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#117
United States/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#195
Canada/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#233
United Kingdom/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#78
Australia/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#21
Mexico/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#29
Philippines/Science/Nature

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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 Duck Revisited
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: Mourning Dove Revisited
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.
114: The Feather Thief with Kirk Wallace Johnson - Revisited
Q: What do you think is the significance of your book in terms of the natural history community?
It highlights the need for museums to document biodiversity and educate the public, while acknowledging the complexities involved.
114: The Feather Thief with Kirk Wallace Johnson - Revisited
Q: How much prior knowledge did you have on collections, Wallace, and any of this before writing The Feather Thief?
I was a complete dimwit. I had a vague memory of Wallace but ultimately had to research extensively to understand the importance of the collections.

Audience Metrics

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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 nature and birding show that blends expert ornithology with approachable, beginner-friendly conversation. Across episodes, the hosts explore identification, behavior, conservation, and current avian research, often weaving in field anecdotes, notable species deep-dives, and relatable stories from both museum-curated perspectives and amateur birding. A standout aspect is the mix of seasoned scientists and enthusiastic newcomers, which tends to yield both rigorous insight and accessible curiosity, making it appealing to both professionals and hobbyists who want science-backed discussions without academic stiffness.

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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. BirdNote Daily
4. The Warblers by Birds Canada
5. Just the Zoo of Us

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

Birds of a Feather Talk Together launched 3 years ago and published 141 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. Nick Mason
2. Ellen Weatherford
3. RJ Pole
4. Amanda Marquart
5. Jenna McCullough
6. Peter Kaestner
7. Jason Weckstein
8. Kirk Wallace Johnson

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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