All Episodes
Displaying episodes 1 - 26 of 26 in total
Episode 22: Morning Cicada – Voice of the Wild
Morning Cicada (Neotibicen tibicen). As the name suggests, this insect sings only in the morning. It begins its rattling broadcast just after the late summer sun has c...
Episode 20: American Goldfinch – Voice of the Wild
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis). The American goldfinch’s jumbled song is a staple of warm mornings and hot summer afternoons. In the cold months they visit hangin...
Episode 19: Indigo Bunting – Voice of the Wild
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea). While the Indigo Bunting is named for the breeding male’s exceptionally blue plumage, the female’s plumage is also exceptional; a ri...
Episode 18: Field Sparrow – Voice of the Wild
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla). The Field Sparrow perseveres even when oppressive heat drives all the other birds to silence. Some remember the field sparrow’s song ...
Episode 17: Gray Catbird – Voice of the Wild
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis). A mimid, this slate-gray bird copies from its neighbors and sings a mishmash of the whole neighborhood’s songs all from one spot...
Episode 16: House Wren – Voice of the Wild
House wren (Troglodytes aedon). The House wren adds brightness to backyards, woods, and urban forests with its bubbly song that seems to stumble over its own urgency. ...
Episode 15: Scissor Grinder Cicada – Voice of the Wild
Scissor Grinder Cicada (Neotibicen pruinosus). The scissor grinder’s name was a little more appropriate when it was common practice to sharpen cutting implements with ...
Episode 14: Dickcissel – Voice of the Wild
Dickcissel (Spiza americana). In a good tallgrass prairie the Dickcissel’s call can seem to come from every direction. It may have a passing resemblance to a Meadowlar...
Episode 13: Common True Katydid – Voice of the Wild
Common True Katydid (Pterophylla camellifolia). This night-singing insect is commonly heard but seldom seen. It’s a master of disguise, with oblong green wing covers t...
Episode 12: Common Nighthawk – Voice of the Wild
Learn the song and call of the Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor). The erratic flight and Narrow angular wings tipped with white bands give the common nighthawk a rat...
Episode 11: Sandhill Crane – Voice of the Wild
Learn the song and call of the Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis). The harsh, resonant call of the Sandhill crane is most often heard from migratory flocks passing o...
Bonus: The Water’s Edge – Voice of the Wild
Headphones on! Today we’re giving voice to the array of plants and animals which can only be found where the land and the water mingle. It's a set of ecosystems united...
Episode 10: Eastern VS Western Meadowlark ID – Voice of the Wild
Learn to tell the difference between Eastern and Western meadowlarks. Both the Eastern meadowlark and Western meadowlark can be found in Illinois. The Western is only ...
Episode 9: Eastern Meadowlark – Voice of the Wild
Learn the song and call of the Eastern meadowlark (Sturnella magna). This yellow-fronted bird with a black V on its chest often sings from fence posts and power lines....
Episode 8: Red-Eyed Vireo – Voice of the Wild
Learn the song and call of the Red-eyed vireo (Vireo olivaceus). A key member of the summer orchestra, you’ll hear this common gray and olive bird on nearly every hike...
Episode 7: Common Yellowthroat – Voice of the Wild
Learn the song and call of the Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas). This big witchity-witchety song, often heard in tallgrass prairies and open marshes, comes fro...
Episode 21: Periodical Cicadas – Voice of the Wild
(Note: this episode was originally published in May 2024 as a bonus episode and was re-published in September 2024 as a regular episode. In the future, chorus and oth...
Episode 6: Yellow Warbler – Voice of the Wild
Learn the song and call of the Yellow warbler (Setophaga petechia). You might find this little yellow bird in a stand of willows next to a pond or hear its call while ...
Episode 5: Eastern Towhee – Voice of the Wild
Learn the song and call of the Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus). A flash of black and white in a low brush pile is likely to be this robin-sized sparrow, and i...
Bonus: American Sycamore – Voice of the Wild
Headphones on! In our first bonus episode we won’t be hearing an animal’s song and learning its voice. Instead, we’ll be giving voice to a tree. We’ll be hearing about...
Episode 4: Yellow-throated Warbler – Voice of the Wild
Learn the song and call of the Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica) This bird is an early migrant and it often serenades the spring ephemerals from the tops of...
Episode 3: Palm Warbler - Voice of the Wild
Learn the song and call of the Palm warbler (Setophaga palmarum). It's easy to get a look at this warbler as it prefers to mingle in mixed flocks on the ground. You mi...
Episode 2: Northern Parula - Voice of the Wild
Learn the song and call of the Northern Parula (Setophaga americana).This bird forages at the top of the canopy so it can be hard to spot. Luckily, it's easy to hear. ...
Episode 1: Wood Thrush - Voice of the Wild
Learn the song and call of the Wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina).This bird is in the same taxonomic family as the American Robin. It’s migratory and its breeding rang...
What to Expect
Here's what to expect from the Voice of the Wild podcast. Voice of the Wild is brought to you by the University of Illinois Extension Natural Resources, Environment, a...
Spring Trailer
Join Voice of the Wild each Friday to learn the wild sounds that surround us. First regular episode goes live May 3rd. Voice of the Wild is brought to you by the Unive...
