Four-episode podcast guest: Exploring the World of Kingfishers
- Jenna McCullough
- Aug 11, 2025
- 2 min read
I recently had the pleasure of joining the podcast Birds of a Feather Talk Together for a four-episode series celebrating one of my favorite groups of birds: kingfishers.
Across the series, I joined hosts Dr. Shannon Hackett, Dr. John Bates, RJ Pole, and Amanda Pole to explore the remarkable diversity, evolution, ecology, and conservation of kingfishers while sharing stories from both the field and the museum. The conversations also highlighted the Kingfisher Exhibit at the Field Museum, to which I contributed alongside Shannon
and John.
The series begins by asking a simple question: What exactly is a kingfisher? We explore the origin of their name, the incredible diversity of species found around the world, and why many kingfishers are actually better described as "kinghunters" than plunge-diving, fish specialists. Along the way, I share how this remarkable bird family became the focus of my research.
The second episode takes a closer look at one of the world's most recognizable species—the Laughing Kookaburra—discussing its unique behavior, iconic call, and how it fits into the broader kingfisher family despite its distinctly terrestrial lifestyle.
The third episode shifts to conservation, focusing on the Guam Kingfisher, a species that became extinct in the wild and is now the subject of an ambitious recovery effort through captive breeding and reintroduction. We discuss the challenges of conserving island species and why the Guam Kingfisher's story offers hope for preventing future extinctions.
The final episode broadens the lens once again, featuring stories from kingfisher research and birding adventures around the world, highlighting the incredible diversity of this colorful family and the experiences that have shaped my research.
It was a wonderful opportunity to share both the science and the stories behind these remarkable birds with a broad audience.
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