Welcome to the first new episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together in 2026!

After wrapping up our duck series, we're kicking off the new year by looking back at some of the biggest science stories of 2025 and sharing what we're most excited to follow in 2026. Each of us brings a favorite scientific discovery, breakthrough, or research story to the table, leading to a wide-ranging conversation about birds, technology, conservation, and the future of science.

Field Museum ornithologists and curators of birds John Bates and Shannon Hackett join RJ and Amanda Pole to discuss everything from juncos and bird research to robotics, emerging scientific tools, and how technology is changing the way scientists study wildlife and understand the natural world.

A major part of this episode is Shannon's candid update on her cochlear implant journey. She shares how cochlear implant technology has transformed her experience of sound, the challenges and successes of hearing restoration, and how the experience has affected both her personal life and her work as an ornithologist. We discuss hearing loss, hearing accessibility, cochlear implants, audiology, sound perception, and the importance of making science and birding more accessible to everyone.

Whether you're interested in birding, wildlife science, hearing technology, cochlear implants, accessibility, conservation, ornithology, or the biggest science stories of the year, this episode offers a unique mix of personal storytelling, scientific discovery, and optimism about the future.

If you love birdwatching, science podcasts, bird behavior, hearing restoration technology, accessibility in science, wildlife research, and fascinating conversations about the natural world, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

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This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we revisit one of our favorite episodes: the incredible Wood Duck.

Known for its stunning colors, unique nesting behavior, and one of the greatest conservation comeback stories in North America, the Wood Duck is one of the most recognizable and fascinating ducks in birding. From their iridescent plumage to their unusual habit of nesting in tree cavities, these birds are full of surprises.

In this episode, Field Museum ornithologists John Bates and Shannon Hackett join RJ and Amanda Pole to explore Wood Duck behavior, habitat, migration, duck identification, and the conservation efforts that helped bring this species back from dramatic population declines in the early 1900s.

We also discuss why Wood Ducks are considered one of the most colorful ducks in North America, how duck boxes helped support their recovery, and what makes them such a favorite among birdwatchers, wildlife photographers, and nature lovers alike.

If you love birding, birdwatching, ducks, wetland wildlife, bird conservation, ornithology, backyard birds, and fascinating bird facts, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

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This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we revisit one of our all-time favorite duck episodes featuring the incredible Harlequin Duck—one of the most striking and resilient waterfowl in North America.

Known for their bold plumage, fast-flowing mountain stream nesting sites, and rugged coastal winter habitats, Harlequin Ducks are among the most fascinating ducks in birding. These adventurous birds thrive in extreme environments, from icy rivers and waterfalls to crashing ocean waves along rocky shorelines.

In this episode, Field Museum ornithologists and curators of birds John Bates and Shannon Hackett join RJ and Amanda Pole to explore Harlequin Duck behavior, migration, habitat, duck identification, and the remarkable adaptations that allow these birds to survive in some of the harshest environments in the natural world.

We also discuss why Harlequin Ducks are such a favorite among birdwatchers, wildlife photographers, and ornithologists, and what makes them one of the most unique and visually stunning ducks in North America.

Whether you’re an experienced birder or just discovering birdwatching, this episode is full of fascinating bird facts, wildlife science, conservation, and a deep appreciation for one of nature’s most adventurous ducks.

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This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we dive into one of the most recognizable and widespread birds in North America: the Mallard Duck.

Before jumping into our duck deep dive, John breaks down the history and importance of the Christmas Bird Count—one of the longest-running citizen science projects in the world and a major part of bird conservation and bird population research.

We then explore what makes Mallards so successful and adaptable, from their seasonal plumage changes and iridescent blue speculum feathers to their behavior, migration, habitat, and how they differ from other duck species. Whether you’ve seen them at local ponds, wetlands, parks, or rivers, Mallards are far more fascinating than many people realize.

In this episode, Field Museum ornithologists John Bates and Shannon Hackett join RJ Pole and Amanda Marquart to discuss Mallard identification, duck behavior, bird migration, waterfowl ecology, and the science behind one of the world’s most familiar ducks.

If you love birding, birdwatching, ducks, waterfowl, bird identification, backyard birds, wildlife science, conservation, and fascinating bird facts, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

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This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we kick off the year with a hilarious and fun-filled conversation about LISTERS—our favorite birding movie of the year.

If you love birding, birdwatching, birders, and the wonderfully obsessive world of listing bird species, this documentary is an absolute must-watch. We laughed through almost the entire episode while discussing the film, the personalities in it, and why birders everywhere will immediately relate to the passion, competitiveness, humor, and chaos that comes with chasing birds around the world.

Even better, LISTERS is free to watch on YouTube, making it the perfect companion for this episode.

Alongside our movie review, we also answer listener mailbag questions covering unforgettable birding stories, wildlife encounters, bird behavior, and one particularly intense conversation involving Shannon and a bot fly encounter you won’t forget anytime soon.

Field Museum ornithologists and curators of birds John Bates and Shannon Hackett join RJ and Amanda Pole for a lively discussion full of bird science, birding culture, nature stories, conservation, humor, and fascinating insights into the world of birdwatching.

If you love birding, birdwatching documentaries, wildlife films, bird lists, ornithology, nature podcasts, bird behavior, and entertaining bird stories, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

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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!

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Learn how to identify the White-throated Sparrow by its song, behavior, and movement patterns, and discover why this common bird has two distinct morphs with different personalities. This birding and birdwatching podcast explores sparrow identification, bird behavior, and fascinating new research for beginners and experts alike. 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! 🐦

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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.

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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.

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Learn about Mourning Doves, one of the most common birds in North America, and why their behavior, calls, and breeding habits make them so unique. This birding and birdwatching podcast breaks down dove behavior, ecology, and identification for beginners and experts alike.
We’re taking the week off for the holiday, but we didn’t want to leave you bird-less—so we’re re-sharing one of our favorite episodes, all about the mourning dove, one of North America’s most familiar and fascinating backyard birds.

Fun fact: mourning doves can store an unbelievable amount of food in a specialized throat pouch before flying off somewhere cozy to digest it… which, honestly, sounds exactly like our Thanksgiving plans.

If you’ve listened before, you know Shannon has very strong feelings about mourning doves—so revisiting this one made for an especially hilarious and insightful re-run.
Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, Amanda Pole, and RJ Pole as we explore mourning dove behavior, feeding strategies, their iconic call, and why this gentle species inspires so many mixed emotions.

We’ll be back next week with brand-new bird episodes, including deep dives on the Varied Thrush and the flamingo.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Grab your binoculars—and let’s get into it.

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