The Real Birding Podcast

In this episode of the Real Birding Podcast, Will and Caleb face off in a competition to see which species produced by the "Surprise Me" feature on eBird are on our own life lists. This fun episode brings up awesome stories of our own experiences with random birds across the globe. From Tropical Screech Owls to Imperial Pigeons, this episode is a lot of fun!

This week Caleb and Will break down bird banding and a recent project Caleb has been taking part in in west Michigan. We talk about the science behind bird banding as well as explaining the process. They even break down some recent birds pulled out of nets and show what to look for from the perspective of a field ornithologist!

Photos have emerged of a truly bizarre bird on lake Erie. This kittiwake appears to have characteristics that better suit the mega-rare Red-legged Kittiwake, a bird that has never ventured far from its home in the north Pacific Ocean. This is our breakdown.

In this episode of the Real Birding Podcast, Caleb and Will Break down the effects that cold snaps and polar vortexes can have on birds. This extreme weather can push birds further south than they would normally go and dump Snowy Owls by the dozens into the lower 48! Listen to hear how you can capitalize on this awesome winter phenomenon.

In this episode of the Birding Breakdown, Caleb and Will take on the challenging identification of a loon that Caleb and other saw recently in southern Michigan. Could it be a rare vagrant from the Pacific Ocean?

In this episode of the Real Birding Podcast Will and Caleb debate which states belong in the top five birding locations in the US!

One of the most iconic birds of North America, stretching from Cuba all the way across Alaska to Siberia! This episode takes a deep dive into the history and mystique of this wonderful bird.

This episode is dedicated to the widely known but seldom treasured sparrow family! This group of birds tend to invade the backyard bird feeders in late fall and have all sorts of relevance as harbingers of both winter and spring (depending on the species!). From Towhees to Juncos, this family packs a punch.

This week, Caleb and Will recount their previous weekend finding rarities in Michigan and the discovery of an especially illusive species. They also break down some of the best rarities found across the region so far this fall. If you are a sucker for rare birds, this one's for you.

In this bonus edition of The Real Birding Podcast, Caleb and Will dive into a fresh set of photos Caleb captured earlier today of a juvenile Jaeger. The challenge? Identifying it to species — and determining whether it might be the rarest of the trio: a Pomarine Jaeger. Join us as we scrutinize every field mark, discuss the tricky ID features of jaegers in juvenile plumage, and debate what exactly this fascinating bird might be. It’s a real-time deep dive into one of birding’s most challenging identification puzzles!