This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we’re exploring one of the rarest, most extraordinary birds on the planet: the spoon-billed sandpiper—a tiny shorebird with one of nature’s most fascinating evolutionary surprises.

If you caught our recent YouTube video where John compared a Roseate Spoonbill at the Field Museum to the delicate spoon-billed sandpiper specimen, you already know we love a good convergent evolution story. Two completely unrelated birds… both evolving their own version of a spoon-shaped bill. Nature never misses.

In this episode, we go deeper:
• How the spoon-billed sandpiper lives
• Why this critically endangered species is so incredibly rare
• The conservation challenges pushing it to the brink
• And what makes this small shorebird so endlessly remarkable

Join married couple Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett, curators of birds at Chicago’s world-renowned Field Museum, along with RJ Pole, and his wife Amanda, as we unpack the science, stories, and pure wonder behind the spoon-billed sandpiper.

Whether you’re a birder, nature lover, museum nerd, or curious listener, this episode is packed with insights into one of the most unique birds on Earth.

Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:

YouTube

Instagram

TikTok

BlueSky

The Golden Eagle — one of North America’s largest, fastest, and most powerful raptors — takes center stage in this week’s episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together! Married ornithologists Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett from Chicago’s Field Museum join hosts RJ Pole and Amanda Pole, who recently spotted Golden Eagles during their honeymoon in Arizona, to share insights about these majestic hunters of the sky.

From breathtaking aerial speed to nesting habits and migration routes, we explore what makes this bird one of the most awe-inspiring birds in the world. Plus, we dive into listener feedback on John’s Olive-sided Flycatcher episode — a fan favorite that continues to inspire birders everywhere!

Tune in for stories of love, science, and soaring wings.

🎧 Birds of a Feather Talk Together — where ornithology meets storytelling, every week.

Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:

YouTube

Instagram

TikTok

BlueSky

Welcome back to Birds of a Feather Talk Together. Hosted by ornithologists and curators of birds at the Field Museum John Bates and Shannon Hackett, who are married, and also new birders RJ and Amanda Pole.

Today we’re focusing on a fascinating species — the palm-nut vulture.

This is a bird John has been eager to highlight, and once you learn more about it, it’s easy to see why. Found in Africa, palm-nut vultures don’t eat carrion, but instead their diet is mostly plant based.

They’re also striking in appearance — mostly white plumage, a sharp contrast to the darker vultures many of us picture — and they’re truly impressive to observe in the wild.

John has had the opportunity to see palm-nut vultures in the wild, and today he’ll share firsthand insight into their behavior and ecology.

Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:

YouTube

Instagram

TikTok

BlueSky

That echoing, haunting call drifting across a northern lake at dusk — few sounds in nature are as unforgettable as the common loon. In this listener-requested episode, RJ, John, Shannon, and Amanda dive into the world of these striking waterbirds. From their red eyes and black-and-white plumage to their incredible diving and parenting skills, loons are true masters of life on the water.

Grab a cup of coffee, settle in lakeside, and join us for a relaxing, fact-filled conversation about one of North America’s most iconic birds.

🎧 Listen to learn:

• Why loons’ eerie calls are so distinctive
• How their anatomy makes them world-class divers
• What their plumage and red eyes signal
• Where to find loons across the northern U.S. and Canada

Whether you’ve heard their call on a quiet morning or are dreaming of your next lake getaway, this episode will transport you straight to the water’s edge.

Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:

YouTube

Instagram

TikTok

BlueSky

Welcome back to Birds of a Feather Talk Together, the podcast where bird lovers flock to learn more about the amazing world of birds!

In this episode, we’re diving into two of North America’s most look-alike woodpeckers — the Downy Woodpecker and the Hairy Woodpecker. Whether you’re a new bird watcher trying to tell these two apart, or an experienced birder curious about their unique behaviors and adaptations, this episode has something for you.

Join your favorite birding hosts — John Bates and Shannon Hackett, married ornithologists from the Field Museum, along with RJ Pole and his wife Amanda — as they share field stories, ID tips, and fascinating facts about these incredible birds.

Plus, we answer a mailbag question from one of our longtime listeners that led to a surprisingly “spark”-filled discussion — you won’t want to miss it!

🎧 Tune in now for bird identification tips, fun woodpecker facts, and expert insight from some of the best voices in ornithology.

Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:

YouTube

Instagram

TikTok

BlueSky

Welcome back to Birds of a Feather Talk Together! We’re taking a short break this week, but we’ve got something special lined up for you. While we gear up for upcoming episodes on Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers—and even a deep dive into the mysterious world of loons—we’re revisiting one of our most popular interviews from last year.

In this replay, your hosts John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Pole sit down with Kirk Wallace Johnson, acclaimed author of The Feather Thief. His bestselling book tells the gripping true story of obsession, theft, and the black market trade for rare bird feathers—a tale that bird lovers, naturalists, and true-crime fans alike will find fascinating.

This story hits close to home for John and Shannon, curators of birds at the Field Museum. John even served as an advisor to Johnson while he was researching the book.

Whether you’re a birder, a natural history fan, or simply love a great story, this episode is packed with insight, passion, and a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most talked-about bird-related books in recent memory.

Grab your binoculars (and maybe a copy of The Feather Thief)—and enjoy our conversation with Kirk Wallace Johnson!

Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:

YouTube

Instagram

TikTok

BlueSky

This week we’re revisiting one of our older episodes all about the Kirtland’s warbler.

If you caught our interview with Peter Kaestner (episode 98), you might remember that he almost went birding on the morning of his wedding just to see this bird—so if Peter was that excited, you know it’s going to be a good one.

The Kirtland’s warbler has a fascinating story, from populations threatened by the brown-headed cowbird—which we talked about last week—to an unexpected connection with the infamous murderers Leopold and Loeb.

So whether you’re here for the bird facts or a little true-crime twist, you’re in for a treat.

Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:

YouTube

Instagram

TikTok

BlueSky

We’re revisiting our episode on the brown-headed cowbird, and trust me, this one’s a wild ride. Did you know cowbirds don’t build their own nests, but instead lay their eggs in other birds’ nests and let them do the parenting?

Even birds that aren’t even close in size will get stuck raising the chicks of a brown-headed cowbird.

Hosts John Bates, Shannon Hackett, RJ Pole, and Amanda Pole talk about the Brown-headed Cowbird!

Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:

YouTube

Instagram

TikTok

BlueSky