This seabird is found in coastal regions of Namibia and South Africa. Like other cormorants, it is mostly black although some of the feathers are more of a dark brown colour. It has a white patch on its rump. An alternative name is Wahlberg's cormorant.
It is classed as endangered in the first quarter of the twenty-first century as commercial fishing has reduced the number of fish living close to the shore where these cormorants feed.
2. Oxpecker
Answer: Africa
There are two types of oxpecker - the red-billed and yellow-billed, but both are endemic to Africa, primarily the sub-Saharan regions. They are known for their relationship with mammals such as antelopes, cattle, rhinos and zebras as they land on these creatures to eat ticks and other insects.
The relationship between birds and mammals is generally mutually beneficial with the birds finding a ready supply of food and the large animals being freed from parasites. Some sources suggest that the birds also take blood from the animals, making them more parasitical, but this is not proven.
3. Grey crowned crane
Answer: Africa
I've had to be specific with this one as birds in the crane family can be found in most regions of the world - South America and Antarctica are the exceptions. The grey crowned crane, along with its close relative, the black crowned crane, is endemic to Africa. These two species are the only cranes which can perch in trees, due to having a long, grasping, toe.
As you'd expect, the bird has primarily grey feathers but with white wings. The distinctive crown consists of gold feathers. The grey crowned crane is the national bird of Uganda.
4. Gonolek
Answer: Africa
These brightly coloured birds belong to the Laniarius genus, a sub-species of the shrikes. Other members of the genus include the boubous and bushshrikes. The gonolek has varieties such as the yellow-crowned gonolek, the black-headed gonolek and the papyrus gonolek. All three of these have bright red breast feathers with different coloured heads. The papyrus gonolek is named for its habitat in papyrus reed beds.
Gonoleks are found in central and eastern countries in Africa with the black-headed species being the most widespread. They range from Tanzania up to Ethiopia including Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda.
5. Toucan
Answer: Americas
These birds are easily recognisable by their large and colourful beaks. Although the colours vary between species, many toucans have black feathers with yellow or white breast feathers. The bills can be multi-coloured with shades of yellow, green, white and red among the colours seen.
Toucans are found in the southern regions of the Americas from the south of Mexico, through Central America and into northern regions of South America. Varieties of mountain toucans live in the Andes, but tend to be less highly coloured.
6. Condor
Answer: Americas
There are two species of condor, a type of vulture, both of which are found in the Americas. The Californian condor is resident in mountainous regions of the western USA and Mexico with others making their home in mountainous parts of Arizona. The Andean condor is found all along the western coast of South America and in the mountains for which it is named.
Condors are scavengers, feeding primarily on carrion.
7. Wedge-tailed hillstar
Answer: Americas
The wedge-tailed hillstar is a type of hummingbird, which places it in the Americas. This particular species is found only in Bolivia and Argentina. It has the typical long beak - needed to reach nectar in flowers - although they also eat insects.
The birds are not as brightly coloured as some of their relatives but they do have a bronze tinge to their otherwise greyish brown feathers. The males also have iridescent green feathers around the throat and chestnut coloured underparts.
8. Scarlet macaw
Answer: Americas
For many of us, being asked to describe a parrot would conjure up a picture of the beautifully colourful scarlet macaw. The bird has bright red feathers over most of its body and the very long tail, with light blue feathers on its rump. The wings are yellow, edged with dark blue feathers.
The birds can be found in South America, in the Amazon rainforest, including Peru and Bolivia. They also live in Central America and the very south of Mexico. Some live in Puerto Rico as an introduced species.
9. Tawny frogmouth
Answer: Australia
The frogmouths resemble owls at first glance but are unrelated. The tawny frogmouth is found in all areas of Australia, including Tasmania, and is classed as least concern at the time of writing (2024). The feathers are a pale brown and the birds are sturdily built but frogmouths do not have the forward facing eyes which typify the owls.
The birds are nocturnal and are effective pest controllers with their diet including slugs, snails, spiders and various other insects.
10. Eastern rosella
Answer: Australia
This attractive little parrot is found in Australia, in the eastern regions as the name implies. There are three species, one found in Victoria and New South Wales, another in the border areas of Queensland and New South Wales with the third mainly in Tasmania. Variations are minor, primarily the colours on the back of the birds and their wings. They all have red heads and breasts, yellow underbodies, black and yellow wings and a white patch on each cheek.
The birds have also become naturalised in New Zealand with most sources saying these colonies are likely to have originally escaped from cages or aviaries.
11. Little eagle
Answer: Australia
As you'd expect from the name, the little eagle is much smaller than the magnificent golden eagle or bald eagle. It is about the same size as a peregrine falcon. Little eagles are found all over Australia, making their homes in woodland areas but not in densely packed forests.
They feed on small mammals, especially rabbits, and the efforts being made to reduce the rabbit population in Australia has had an impact on the numbers of little eagles. In desert areas, lizards form a large part of their diet while smaller birds are also treated as prey. Some areas of Australia consider them to be vulnerable.
12. Galah
Answer: Australia
This member of the parrot family can be found pretty much everywhere in Australia. It can be identified from its pink head and underparts, grey wings and the paler pink crest of feathers on its head. They form large flocks and feed on seeds and crops, making them a nuisance to farmers who are growing food for sale.
The name of galah comes from the native Australians, known as aborigines, and other names include the rose-breasted cockatoo and rose and grey cockatoo. They can live up to forty years in the wild and those kept in captivity have reached seventy years of age.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
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