Birds of a Feather Talk Together

John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, Amanda Marquart
  • 5.0 (40)
  • NATURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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 birders—asking relatable questions that open the conversation to beginners without losing depth for seasoned bird watchers. Each episode explores rare, exotic, extinct, and everyday birds, covering identification, behavior, conservation, and current avian research. From backyard birds to birds of the world, Birds of a Feather Talk Together offers expert knowledge in an approachable, conversational format. Subscribe and discover the fascinating world of birds—one chirp at a time. 🐦

  1. 128: Wood Duck Revisited

    4D AGO

    128: Wood Duck Revisited

    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 social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: YouTube Instagram TikTok BlueSky

    1h 3m
  2. 127: Harlequin Duck Revisited

    JAN 19

    127: Harlequin Duck Revisited

    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, ornithologists, and nature lovers alike. Joining the conversation are married ornithologists John Bates and Shannon Hackett, curators of birds at the Field Museum, along with RJ and Amanda—enthusiastic bird fans who love asking the questions you’re probably thinking. While we’re gearing up for brand-new episodes, we hope you enjoy this look back at one of our most popular and fascinating duck deep dives. Whether you’re a seasoned birder or just discovering the joy of birds, this episode is packed with insight, wonder, and a deep appreciation for one of nature’s most adventurous ducks. 🎧 Listen now and rediscover why the harlequin duck stole our hearts—and continues to inspire awe wherever it appears. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: YouTube Instagram TikTok BlueSky

    33 min
  3. 126: Mallard Revisited

    JAN 12

    126: Mallard Revisited

    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 Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Marquart for an engaging conversation packed with bird science, identification tips, and fun ornithological insights. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: YouTube Instagram TikTok BlueSky

    42 min

  4. JAN 5

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

    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 into listener questions — and fair warning, some of them get a little intense. From unforgettable field stories to Shannon’s up-close (and slightly horrifying) experience with a bot fly, this episode has a bit of everything: bird science, real-life birding moments, and plenty of laughs along the way. Whether you’re a seasoned birder, a movie lover, or just here for wild nature stories, this episode is a perfect way to start the year. Hit play, follow along with LISTERS, and join us for another entertaining and informative conversation about birds and the people who love them. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: YouTube Instagram TikTok BlueSky

    57 min
  5. 124: Snowy Owl - Chicago Sightings, Irruption, and Lemmings

    12/22/2025

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

    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 listener question about a Loon that was recently seen in the Chicago area.  Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Pole! Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: YouTube Instagram TikTok BlueSky

    33 min
  6. 123: White-throated Sparrow Revisited

    12/15/2025

    123: White-throated Sparrow Revisited

    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 also dives into compelling research showing how White-throated Sparrows have been shrinking in body size over the past 50 years, and how long-term museum specimen collections at the Field Museum have made this discovery possible. You’ll also learn about the White-throated Sparrow’s two distinct head color morphs (tan-striped and white-striped), how these morphs influence mating preferences and behavior, and why this species is such a classic example in behavioral ecology. Plus, we wrap things up by answering a mailbag question from a listener in the U.K.—all about vultures, their behavior, and why they play such an important ecological role. Grab your binoculars and join us for this science-packed, bird-loving conversation! 🐦 Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: YouTube Instagram TikTok BlueSky

    45 min
  7. 122: Flamingos with Ellen Weatherford

    12/08/2025

    122: Flamingos with Ellen Weatherford

    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 biology, this episode is just pure joy from start to finish. Ellen joins John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Pole. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: YouTube Instagram TikTok BlueSky

    1h 9m
  8. 121: Varied Thrush - The Lone Forest Dweller AND The Occasional Vagrant

    12/01/2025

    121: Varied Thrush - The Lone Forest Dweller AND The Occasional Vagrant

    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 about vagrancy—why some birds wander far outside their typical range. Along the way, we also drift into some fascinating side conversations about sampling methods —how researchers collect data from poop, what those approaches can tell us. And stick around, because we’ve got a fun announcement about an upcoming episode that you won’t want to miss. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow: YouTube Instagram TikTok BlueSky

    34 min
See All (132)

5
out of 5
40 Ratings

About

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 birders—asking relatable questions that open the conversation to beginners without losing depth for seasoned bird watchers. Each episode explores rare, exotic, extinct, and everyday birds, covering identification, behavior, conservation, and current avian research. From backyard birds to birds of the world, Birds of a Feather Talk Together offers expert knowledge in an approachable, conversational format. Subscribe and discover the fascinating world of birds—one chirp at a time. 🐦

Information

  • Creator
    John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, Amanda Marquart
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    132
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Birds of a Feather Talk Together
  • Show Website
    Birds of a Feather Talk Together

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