Birds of a Feather Talk Together

What happens when a bird lays its eggs in another bird’s nest and tricks unsuspecting parents into raising its young? Welcome to the fascinating—and sometimes downright creepy—world of the Great Spotted Cuckoo!
In this episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're exploring one of nature's most unusual reproductive strategies: brood parasitism. Inspired by the 2024 horror movie Cuckoo, directed by Tilman Singer, RJ and Amanda bring their questions to Field Museum ornithologists Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett to uncover the real science behind cuckoo behavior.
The Great Spotted Cuckoo (Clamator glandarius) is a remarkable bird known for laying its eggs in the nests of other species, particularly crows and magpies. But how do these birds choose their hosts? Why do other birds raise cuckoo chicks as their own? And how has evolution shaped this extraordinary relationship between parasites and their hosts?
We explore the surprising biology of cuckoos, the evolutionary adaptations that make brood parasitism possible, and the complex relationships between birds that have developed over millions of years.
Along the way, we separate Hollywood horror from scientific reality and discover that the natural world can be even stranger than fiction.
Whether you're an experienced birder, a backyard birdwatcher, or simply fascinated by animal behavior, this episode offers a fascinating look at bird evolution, reproductive strategies, ornithology, and one of the strangest behaviors in the avian world.
Join us for another fun, curious, and science-filled conversation about the incredible world of birds!
Topics covered: Great Spotted Cuckoo, brood parasitism in birds, cuckoo eggs and nests, host birds, magpies and crows, coevolution, bird reproductive behavior, evolutionary adaptations, and the science behind the 2024 horror film Cuckoo.
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The California Condor is one of the rarest birds in North America, and its remarkable comeback from the brink of extinction is one of the greatest wildlife conservation stories ever told.
In this episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're revisiting our fascinating conversation with zoologist Christian Flores about the California Condor, the largest land bird in North America. With a wingspan approaching 10 feet, these incredible birds once soared across vast stretches of the continent before habitat loss, lead poisoning, and other human-caused threats pushed them to the edge of extinction.
By 1987, less than 30 California Condors remained in the world, prompting an extraordinary conservation effort to capture the remaining wild birds and establish a captive breeding program. Christian joins us to explore the difficult decisions that saved the species, the challenges of reintroducing condors into the wild, and the ongoing efforts to protect their future.
We also dive into the fascinating world of vultures and scavengers, exploring their essential role in healthy ecosystems, their unique adaptations, and why these often misunderstood birds deserve our admiration.
Join hosts Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett, ornithologists at Chicago's Field Museum, alongside RJ Pole and Amanda Pole, for an engaging conversation about bird conservation, endangered species, evolution, and the incredible resilience of the California Condor.
Whether you're an experienced birder, a backyard birdwatcher, or simply curious about wildlife and nature, this episode offers an inspiring look at what it takes to bring a species back from the brink.
Birds of a Feather Talk Together is a birding and ornithology podcast exploring the fascinating world of birds through expert insights, scientific discoveries, conservation stories, and lively conversations.
Subscribe for more episodes about birds, birdwatching, wildlife conservation, and the natural world.
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This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we’re exploring the Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)—a striking black-and-white shorebird with a bright orange-red bill found across Europe, including the coasts of Northern Ireland.
There’s a family connection behind this week’s bird choice: John and Shannon’s son recently moved to Northern Ireland, so Shannon wanted to feature a bird he might actually encounter there. The Eurasian Oystercatcher turned out to be the perfect choice.
We dive into the fascinating biology, behavior, diet, habitat, and adaptations of the Eurasian Oystercatcher, including some of the traits that set it apart from other oystercatcher species. We also compare oystercatchers from around the world, including the American Oystercatcher, and explore how different species have adapted to their environments.
Along the way, Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett of Chicago’s Field Museum share their ornithological expertise, while RJ and Amanda ask the questions that send the conversation in unexpected directions.
This episode was recorded in person as we experimented with a new four-microphone setup ahead of our live recording at the Chicago Urban Birding Festival, so you may notice that it sounds a little different from a typical episode. But having all four hosts sitting around the same table made for a fun, conversational discussion about one of Europe’s most recognizable shorebirds.
If you’re interested in Eurasian Oystercatchers, shorebirds, bird behavior, bird evolution, European birds, birding in Northern Ireland, or the differences between Eurasian and American Oystercatchers, this episode is for you.
Birds of a Feather Talk Together is a birding and ornithology podcast featuring Field Museum scientists Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett alongside bird enthusiasts RJ Pole and Amanda Pole. Each episode explores the science, behavior, evolution, conservation, and stories behind birds from around the world.
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For the first time ever, Birds of a Feather Talk Together is recording in front of a live audience!
We had an incredible time at the Chicago Urban Birding Festival, a celebration of birds, birding, conservation, and the amazing wildlife that can be found right here in the city. Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett of the Field Museum join RJ and Amanda for a special live episode filled with bird stories, science, laughs, and questions from the audience.
One of our favorite things about Birds of a Feather is the community that has grown around the podcast, so getting to sit in a room full of people who love birds as much as we do was pretty special.
Whether you're an experienced birder, a backyard birdwatcher, or just beginning to discover the world of birds, come hang out with us for our first-ever live recording!
Birds of a Feather Talk Together is a birding and birdwatching podcast featuring Field Museum ornithologists Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett alongside birders RJ and Amanda. Each episode explores bird behavior, evolution, migration, conservation, ornithology, and the incredible lives of birds.
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This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're diving into the fascinating world of the Swallow-tailed Kite, a striking black-and-white raptor famous for its incredibly long, deeply forked tail and seemingly effortless flight.
But the Swallow-tailed Kite doesn't just LOOK impressive in the air—it has evolved to do an astonishing amount of its daily life without landing. These birds can catch and eat prey while flying, drink on the wing, and even collect nesting material from trees without touching the ground.
So how do they do it?
Field Museum Curators of Birds Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett take us into the biology, behavior, evolution, and natural history of the Swallow-tailed Kite. RJ and Amanda bring plenty of questions as we explore how that distinctive forked tail helps these birds maneuver through the sky, what they eat, how they hunt, where they live and migrate, and what makes them such specialized flyers.
If you've ever looked up and seen the unmistakable silhouette of a Swallow-tailed Kite soaring overhead, you already know why this bird inspires so much excitement. And if you've never seen one before, this episode might give you a new bird for your bucket list.
🐦 Birds of a Feather Talk Together is a conversational birding and ornithology podcast hosted by Field Museum ornithologists Dr. John Bates and Dr. Shannon Hackett alongside birders RJ and Amanda. From bird behavior and evolution to migration, conservation, and the incredible things birds do, we're exploring the world of birds one species at a time.
🎧 Listen now and discover why the Swallow-tailed Kite might be one of the coolest birds in the sky.
#SwallowTailedKite #Birding #BirdWatching #Birds #BirdFacts #Raptors #BirdOfPrey #Ornithology #BirdPodcast #BirdBehavior #BirdMigration #Wildlife #Nature
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