Amazing Bird Facts from Around the World

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. Over 99% of bird species incubate their own eggs. Less than 1% are brood parasites, which means that they lay their eggs in other birds' nests and take no further role in incubation or rearing the young. Which of these species is NOT a brood parasite? Black-headed duck (Heteronetta atricapilla) Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) Red-headed bunting (Emberiza bruniceps) Brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater)

2. With males reaching over eight feet tall (2.7 m) and weighing around 235 pounds (130 kg), the ostrich is the world's tallest and heaviest bird by some margin. Which of these statements about the ostrich is true? Ostriches range right across central Asia from the Russian Steppes to the Gobi Desert Successful breeding pairs attempt to kidnap rival pairs' chicks When danger approaches ostriches bury their heads in the sand Ostriches can outrun the fastest predators

3. In 2003, a sighting was made of a bird that had been thought to be extinct for some 150 years. This sighting was later confirmed and several further sightings have now occurred. Which species of bird was involved in this rediscovery? Slender-billed curlew New Zealand storm-petrel Passenger pigeon Great auk

4. The largest butterflies in the world weigh heavier than the smallest birds. True False

5. What connects these four unrelated species: osprey, wallcreeper, secretary bird and palmchat? They all feed exclusively on fish They all start life as females, some then develop into males Their eggs are incubated by the male alone They are all the sole representative of their particular family

6. Many species of bats have developed a system of echolocation which enables them to navigate and/or find prey at night. The majority of bird species are diurnal and do not need to develop such a system. Some species of Asian cave-swiftlets have developed a primitive echolocation system. Which is the only other species of bird known to have developed echolocation? Manx shearwater Oilbird Great grey owl Marbled frogmouth

7. Which of these birds makes regular migrations across the Himalayas and has been seen flying several times above Mount Everest itself? Whooper swan Bar-headed goose Bar-tailed godwit Long-tailed duck

8. The Eurasian bittern is a member of the heron family usually found in and around dense reed-beds. Which of these sentences about the bittern is true? The bittern's nest is the largest of any bird species The bittern's beak is the longest of any bird The bittern is the only bird species to have one wing longer than the other The bittern's call can carry for a greater distance than any other birds' call

9. There are many strange birds found in the rain forests of New Guinea. Which of these statements about the hooded pitohui is true? It can fly upside down It has poisonous skin and feathers It builds its nest underwater It has teeth

10. The Victorians were fond of exaggerating the capabilities of big birds of prey such as the golden eagle. They told lurid tales of these birds carrying off human babies and infants. There is no evidence to support any of these stories. However the skull of a human child has been found in one of these birds' nests. In which bird's nest was the skull found? Griffon vulture Andean condor African crowned eagle Eagle owl