Rephonic
Artwork for Birds of a Feather Talk Together
Bird Conservation
The Feather Thief
Climate Change
Field Museum
Migration
Birding
White-Throated Sparrow
Brown-Headed Cowbird
Evolution
Birds
Hoatzin
Christmas Bird Count
Chicago
Darwin's Finches
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
Kirtland's Warbler
Kingfishers
California
Birdwatching
Black-Billed Magpie

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes156Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationNatureScience

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Birds of a Feather Talk Together

Latest Episodes

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're taking a closer look at one of North America's most energetic and recognizable backyard birds: the Carolina Wren.

This episode was inspired by listener Rebekah, who wrote to us asking if we could ... more

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we explore one of North America's most secretive and fascinating birds: the Black-billed Cuckoo.

Often heard more than seen, Black-billed Cuckoos are mysterious forest birds known for their elusive beha... more

YouTube

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're joined by zoologist and science communicator Christian Flores (better known as @crikeyitschristian) for a deep dive into one of the greatest conservation success stories in modern history: the Cali... more

YouTube

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

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Science of Birds
The Science of BirdsIvan Phillipsen
The American Birding Podcast
The American Birding PodcastAmerican Birding Association
Life List: A Birding Podcast
Life List: A Birding PodcastGeorge Armistead, Alvaro Jaramillo, and Mollee Brown
Okay, But... Birds
Okay, But... BirdsDr. Scott Taylor

Recent Guests

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 🐦🌏
Peter Kaestner
World-record birder, first to see 10,000 species in the wild
Independent birder / world traveler
Episode: 147: Peter Kaestner: The First Birder to See 10,000 Bird Species in the Wild 🐦
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
Ornithologist, post-doctoral researcher with a PhD from University of New Mexico
University of Kentucky
Episode: 102: Laughing Kookaburras & the Science Behind Australia’s Most Famous Bird | Jenna McCullough
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

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 States3 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 States6 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 States6 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
#46
United States/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#58
Canada/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#211
United Kingdom/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#113
Australia/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#32
Norway/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#58
South Korea/Science/Nature

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

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

Where can I find podcast stats for Birds of a Feather Talk Together?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Birds of a Feather Talk Together. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Birds of a Feather Talk Together and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Birds of a Feather Talk Together get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Birds of a Feather Talk Together, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Birds of a Feather Talk Together?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Birds of a Feather Talk Together, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Birds of a Feather Talk Together have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Birds of a Feather Talk Together has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

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

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

Birds of a Feather Talk Together launched 3 years ago and published 156 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Birds of a Feather Talk Together?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Birds of a Feather Talk Together?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Birds of a Feather Talk Together from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Birds of a Feather Talk Together?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Birds of a Feather Talk Together. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

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

Recent guests on Birds of a Feather Talk Together include:

1. Louise Bott
2. Peter Kaestner
3. Ryan Shostack
4. Nick Mason
5. Ellen Weatherford
6. RJ Pole
7. Amanda Marquart
8. Jenna McCullough

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days