The Top 8 Best Birdwatching Podcasts

Best Birdwatching Podcasts

Listening to birdwatching podcasts is an excellent way to learn new things about birds on the go. It allows you to develop birdwatching skills in a totally unique way- by listening to interesting bird-watching experiences.

This article discusses the best birdwatching podcasts that you should listen to for both entertainment and educational purposes.

What is A Birdwatching Podcast?

A podcast is basically a series of episodes of digital audio that you can listen to by downloading or listening into live sessions. The concept of the birdwatching podcast is the same, and it encompasses discussions regarding birdwatching.

The Best Birdwatching Podcasts You Should Listen To

Here’s a list of some of the best and most enjoyable birdwatching podcasts you must listen to as a birdwatcher.

1. American Birding Podcast

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American Birding Podcast is the official podcast of ABA (American Birding Association). It offers a blended mixture of expert insight while keeping things enjoyable and light at the same time. 

The host (Nate Swick) and different guests usually talk about birds found in North America.

You also discover the latest developments and news regarding rare bird species. What makes this podcast interesting is its focus on climate change and how it’s affecting different bird species and birdwatchers.

Why Should You Listen to the American Birding Podcast?

The best thing about the American Birding Podcast is that it brings together friends and staff members of ABA. They talk about birdwatching, traveling, bird species, and their conservation worldwide, especially in North America.

How to Listen to the American Birding Podcast?

You can access all previous and current podcasts from the ABA archives. You can also download the American Birding Podcast application (for iPhone users) or the Stitcher app (for Android users) on your smartphone and complete the subscription process.

2. BirdNote

BirdNote is a well-produced and fantastic podcast that offers rich sound effects coupled with engaging bird stories. 

This podcast uses different sound effects to stimulate the birdwatcher in you. It offers information regarding individual birds and how they behave in their natural habitat.

The quality of BirdNote is absolutely incredible and provides listeners with a temporary respite from their busy lives. Different people host this podcast, and they narrate interesting and engaging stories in a clear and pleasant voice.  

Why Should You  Listen to the BirdNote Podcast?

The production value of BirdNote Podcast makes it unique. Everything from the podcast website to the quality of content and the length of each segment is excellent. You can easily navigate the BirdNote podcast’s website and find new episodes every day.

How to Listen to the BirdNote Podcast?

You can find all the previous and newly published BirdNote podcasts on the official website. The website allows you to listen to the podcast and download every episode. You can also subscribe to the BirdNote podcast to listen to it on your preferred streaming platform, including RSS, Stitcher, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Overcast, and Apple Podcasts.

3. Out There with the Birds Podcast

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The staff of the famous Bird Watcher’s Digest host the Out there with the Birds Podcast. They discuss different topics, such as the latest trends and anecdotes regarding wild birds.

The podcast also features an expert in each episode to discuss the issues that birdwatchers and different birds face. You also hear the hosts and guests talking about the bird conservation efforts worldwide.

Why Should You Listen to the Out There with The Birds Podcast?

This podcast is perfect for all types of birdwatchers, including beginners and experienced individuals. It covers everything from simple conservation efforts to the worldwide industry of illegal bird trading.

Most commonly, the podcast covers fairly international topics. It means that people from across the globe will enjoy this podcast. And you’ll learn about birds you might not encounter at home!

How to Listen to the Out There with The Birds Podcast?

Currently, there are more than 100 episodes of this podcast. All of them are published, and you can access them by going to the official website of the Bird Watcher’s Digest. Every new episode is published there, and you can also download it in “mp3” format.

4. The Birding Life Podcast

The Birding Life Podcast is dedicated to the interesting and unique lifestyle of different bird species. 

Listening to this podcast not only allows you to understand how to find some rarest and most beautiful bird species but also provides you with information regarding bird conservation and the birdwatching community.

The Birding Life Podcast invites many experts to talk about birds, and each episode is about 30 to 45 minutes long.

Why Should You Listen to the Birding Life Podcast?

The Birding Life is a weekly podcast which means you have an entire week to understand and act upon each episode. The length of an episode is also great for long rides and drives.

How to Listen to the Birding Life Podcast?

You can access all the episodes of the Birding Life Podcast season 1 and season 2 (which is ongoing) from the official website. This podcast is also available on Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Soundcloud.  

5. Ray Brown’s Talkin’ Birds– The best in-depth birdwatching podcast

The Ray Brown’s Talkin’ Birds podcast is basically a live radio show that also allows listeners to interact. 

The podcast discusses different species of birds and their natural habitat in greater detail. The common topics include facts about birds, the behaviors of different birds, bird feeding, birdwatching, and attracting birds to lawns and gardens. The host, Ray Brown, also invites expert birders to talk about these topics.

Interestingly, there are more than 850 episodes, and each one is about 30 minutes long. The educational content of this podcast is perfect for those who want to learn deeply about birdwatching.

Why Should You Listen to Ray Brown’s Talkin’ Birds?

The American Bird Association recommends birdwatchers to listen to Ray Brown’s Talkin’ Birds podcast. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced birdwatcher, you can listen to this podcast to improve your knowledge of birds.

You’ll have a chance to learn some interesting facts about birds that you have never heard before. There are some quiz sections as well in this podcast where you need to identify a bird that hosts and guests describe. You can also make a call and ask different questions from the expert birdwatchers.

You can easily listen to Ray Brown’s Talkin’ Birds podcast while you’re going to the office or coming back home to deepen your understanding of birds and birdwatching.

How to Listen to the Ray Brown’s Talkin’ Birds Podcast?

You can access all the Ray Brown’s Talkin’ Birds podcast episodes from the official website. The podcast also has a dedicated application, and you can also listen to it on the radio.

6. For the Birds Radio Podcast– The best birdwatching Podcast for busy people

“For the Birds Radio” podcast is hosted by Laura Erickson, who won the Roger Tory Peterson Award of the American Birding Association in 2014. The ABA also recommends her podcast to birdwatchers.

Laura is also a photographer and writer, and her content is really helpful to all types of birdwatchers. She usually describes her personal experiences but also invites expert birders to her podcast to discuss interesting facts about birds.

The best thing about this podcast is that each episode is only 5 minutes long. It means even busy people with hectic life routines can listen to them.

Why Should You Listen to the “For the Birds Radio Podcast”?

What makes this podcast unique is probably the way the host narrates her experiences. She also offers her podcast in a written form, so you can read those if you’re not in the mood to listen to anything.

It means you can have more flexibility as you can listen to the “For the Birds Radio Podcast” or read it according to your preferences. She usually publishes an episode 3 to 5 times a week.

How to Listen to the “For the Birds Radio Podcast”?

For the Birds Radio is one of the oldest bird-watching podcasts as Laura has been recording them since 1986. You can access all the episodes on her official website, and you can also download them if you want. 

This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts.

7. The Casual Birder Podcast– The best birdwatching podcast for beginners

The Casual Birder Podcast, as the name implies, is very casual. It’s hosted by a casual birdwatcher, Suzy Buttress. She gives her commentaries and reviews regarding her birdwatching journey in each episode. Sometimes, she also invites expert birdwatchers and asks interesting questions.

Compared to other podcasts, the Casual Birder Podcast offers a lighter and more casual tone. Listening to this podcast is a fun and enjoyable experience even to those who are not birdwatchers.

Why Should You Listen to the Casual Birder Podcast?

It’s a perfect option if you are a beginner or a casual birdwatcher, and you’ll mostly find the content of Casual Birder Podcast relatable.

How to Listen to the Casual Birder Podcast?

The Casual Birder Podcast has more than 100 episodes, and you can access them all from the official website. You can also listen to this podcast on different audio streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

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8. Bird Calls Radio

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Host Mardi Dickinson examines wild birds and conservation. In particular, she covers bird conservation and ways to help children enjoy the outdoors. She’s interviewed people including falconers, conservationists, ornithologists, birders who’ve traveled around the world, museum curators, bird photographers, and more!

Why You Should Listen to Bird Call Radio

To learn about so many bird-related topics from experts around the world.

How to listen to the Bird Call Radio podcast

You can listen to Bird Call Radio directly on their website here, or on iTunes.