Birds of a Feather Talk Together artwork

Nature · John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, Amanda Marquart

Birds of a Feather Talk Together

by John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, Amanda Marquart

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 through conversations that are educational, approachable, and fun. Each episode dives into bird behavior, bird migration, bird identification, bird songs and calls, backyard birds, conservation, bird intelligence, evolution, ecology, and the science behind how birds live and adapt. From hummingbirds, owls, woodpeckers, warblers, and herons to rare bird sightings, viral bird stories, and surprising animal behavior, every episode uncovers something remarkable about the natural world. What makes the show unique is the mix of professional scientists and newer birders learning in real time together. Whether you’re an experienced birder, a casual birdwatcher, or completely new to birding, the conversations are designed to make ornithology accessible and engaging without losing the depth of the science. The podcast regularly features stories and research connected to the Field Museum, listener-submitted bird sightings, birding adventures, wildlife conservation topics, and current events from across the birding world. If you love birds, birdwatching, nature podcasts, wildlife, science storytelling, animal behavior, or simply want to better understand the birds around you, Birds of a Feather Talk Together will help you see the natural world in a whole new way.

Chart trend

Position in the Nature chart (US), last 90 days.

#27
all-time peak
89
days in the top 50 since Nov 2024

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

160: Our Summer Birding Adventures - Maine Birding and Much More!

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we’re catching up on our summer birding adventures! RJ and Amanda share stories from their trip to Maine, including birdin

Sep 7
40 min

159: Common Loon Revisited: The Iconic Call of the North

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 epi

Aug 31
1 h 01 min

158: Black-capped Chickadee Revisited: The Tiny Bird With an Incredible Memory 🐦

The Black-capped Chickadee may be tiny, but it has one of the most remarkable memories in the bird world. This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're revis

Aug 24
58 min

157: Alpine Accentors Revisited: One of the Wildest Mating Systems in the Bird World 🐦

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

Aug 17
40 min

156: Baltimore Orioles: The Master Weavers of the Bird World 🧡🐦

How does a Baltimore Oriole build one of the most extraordinary nests in the bird world? This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we dive into the fascinating worl

Aug 10
30 min

155: Noisy Miners: Australia's Most Aggressive Bird? 🐦

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're traveling to Australia to explore one of the country's most fascinating—and controversial—birds: the Noisy

Aug 3
36 min

154: Chimney Swifts: The Birds That Almost Never Stop Flying 🐦

How long can a bird stay in the air without landing? This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're diving into the incredible world of the Chimney Swift—one

Jul 27
37 min

153: Slate-throated Redstart (or Whitestart) with David Vander Pluym

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're joined by ornithologist David Vander Pluym to explore a fascinating bird from Central America and South America:

Jul 20
51 min

152: Carolina Wrens: Why One of North America's Loudest Little Birds Deserves Your Love 🐦

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

Jul 13
19 min

151: Black-billed Cuckoos: One of North America's Most Mysterious Birds 🐦

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 tha

Jul 6
28 min

150: California Condors with Christian Flores - The Incredible Comeback of North America's Largest Bird 🦅

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 d

Jun 29
52 min

149: Birding Australia, New Zealand & Beyond + Shannon’s Cochlear Implant Update 🐦🌏

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, in

Jun 22
47 min

148: Club-Winged Manakins: The Bird of the Year That Makes Music With Its Wings 🐦🎵

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

Jun 15
47 min

147: Peter Kaestner: The First Birder to See 10,000 Bird Species in the Wild 🐦

What does it take to see 10,000 species of birds in the wild? Legendary birder Peter Kaestner joins Birds of a Feather Talk Together to tell the story of becoming the fi

Jun 8
1 h 33 min

146: Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers: The Tiny Bird That's Always on the Move 🐦

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, bu

Jun 1
38 min

145: Rwenzori Turacos: One of Africa’s Most Beautiful and Colorful Birds 🐦

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we explore one of the most spectacular birds in Africa: the Rwenzori Turaco. Chosen by Shannon, this stunning bird is famo

May 25
38 min

144: Black-and-White Warblers: The Tiny Tree-Climbing Warbler that Birders Love 🐦

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we explore the fascinating world of the Black-and-white Warbler—one of the most unique and behaviorally unusual warblers in

May 18
26 min

143: Pink-headed Fruit Dove: One of the Most Beautiful Doves in the World 🐦

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we’re talking about one of the most beautiful doves in the world: the Pink-headed Fruit Dove. Native to the mountain fores

May 11
24 min

142: Costa's Hummingbird - Is Their Range Expanding? A Listener Request!

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we’re diving into one of the most dazzling birds in North America—the Costa’s Hummingbird. After a listener wrote in with a

May 4
30 min

141: Black-backed Woodpeckers with Ryan Shostack And Making Birding More Inclusive

This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we’re joined by birder Ryan Shostack to talk about the incredible Black-backed Woodpecker—and how birding can be more inclu

Apr 27
42 min

Chart positions

Where Birds of a Feather Talk Together ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 10, 2026).

#75 ▼ 19 Nature US

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Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of Birds of a Feather Talk Together, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.

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