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Quiz about Gold Guides British Birds II
Quiz about Gold Guides British Birds II

Gold Guides: British Birds II Trivia Quiz


This is a pretty straightforward quiz. I'll give you a Latin name and description and you tell me the common name. Let's go.

A multiple-choice quiz by mikew41. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
mikew41
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
291,633
Updated
Jul 23 22
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
1194
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: colbymanram (4/10), Guest 72 (9/10), Guest 31 (8/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Stercorarius parasiticus. A summer visitor to the North of Scotland, this dark, fast seabird comes to land only to breed. While nesting it is very aggressive to its neighbours. Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Regulus ignicapillus. One of the UK's smallest birds, its need to feed on insects and spiders means it is almost constantly on the move. It has an orange stripe over the head which is distinctive. Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Falco tinnunculus. Nearly everyone has seen at least one of these small birds of prey searching for their favourite rodents over a piece of rough ground or motorway embankment. Some other species of British birds can float in one spot with help from a headwind, but this bird is the only one that can truly hover in still air. Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Fratercula arctica. Another unmistakable species, this small black and white seabird with its orange feet and large multicoloured bill can be seen in their thousands on cliffs in summer with their beaks full of sand eels. Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Cygnus olor. This is one of the largest and most recognisable water birds which can be seen on most any lake or large pond, even in public parks. Their plumage is pure white with a black based orange beak. Although their name suggests otherwise, these birds do make a noise. Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Mergus serrator. Here we have a beautiful duck of the sawbill family, similar in colouring to a mallard but with a distinctive tuft on the head. Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Emberiza citrinella. This species is a small sparrow-sized member of the bunting family, the male being the most easily identifiable with its yellow head and white tail bars. This species is omnivorous and the male has a familiar song described as sounding like "a little bit of bread and no cheese" repeated over and over. Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Carduelis cannabina. This sparrow-sized bird of open farmland has a distinctive red breast and red forehead in the males, the females being more or less all brown. It has a fluttery undulating flight and twitters while on the wing. Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Apus apus. Most people think of this superb flier as being all black, but in reality it is a dull sooty brown. They very rarely land and even sleep on the wing. A summer visitor, they can be seen flying extremely fast through towns and built up areas with a high pitched screech commonly heard. A forked tail will help with identification. Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Sturnus vulgaris. One of Britain's commonest birds, this species is at first sight a fairly dull black bird, but if looked at closely its feathers are a beautiful iridescent dark green with small white spots. Flocks contain thousands of individuals and can be seen performing elaborate manoeuvres before settling to roost. Hint



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quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Stercorarius parasiticus. A summer visitor to the North of Scotland, this dark, fast seabird comes to land only to breed. While nesting it is very aggressive to its neighbours.

Answer: arctic skua

Mainly restricted to the Orkney and Shetland islands, arctic skuas can be seen chasing terns aggressively to try and make them drop their food.
2. Regulus ignicapillus. One of the UK's smallest birds, its need to feed on insects and spiders means it is almost constantly on the move. It has an orange stripe over the head which is distinctive.

Answer: firecrest

While the firecrest is classed as a native species, most of the population migrate northwards from mainland Europe in summer. Due to the small population of approximately 250 breeding pairs it is on the RSPB Amber List.
3. Falco tinnunculus. Nearly everyone has seen at least one of these small birds of prey searching for their favourite rodents over a piece of rough ground or motorway embankment. Some other species of British birds can float in one spot with help from a headwind, but this bird is the only one that can truly hover in still air.

Answer: kestrel

The kestrel is Britain's most common bird of prey, but their numbers are in decline due to intensive farming and habitat degradation. As such, they are yet another name on the RSPB Amber List.
4. Fratercula arctica. Another unmistakable species, this small black and white seabird with its orange feet and large multicoloured bill can be seen in their thousands on cliffs in summer with their beaks full of sand eels.

Answer: puffin

Puffins got their genus name "fratercula," meaning "little brother," from their resemblance to monastic brethren in robes. The nests are built in burrows about a metre long. Although there are over half a million breeding pairs in the UK, over half of them are restricted to a handful of sites, putting them on the RSPB Amber List.
5. Cygnus olor. This is one of the largest and most recognisable water birds which can be seen on most any lake or large pond, even in public parks. Their plumage is pure white with a black based orange beak. Although their name suggests otherwise, these birds do make a noise.

Answer: mute swan

Both parts of the name Cygnus olor mean swan in Greek and Latin respectively. They are monogamous and are fiercely territorial. If you see a swan sitting on a nest at the edge of a lake, do NOT go near it....you are likely to be picking up your teeth with a broken arm.
6. Mergus serrator. Here we have a beautiful duck of the sawbill family, similar in colouring to a mallard but with a distinctive tuft on the head.

Answer: red breasted merganser

The merganser diet of salmon and trout has brought them into direct conflict with fishermen on their ranges in Scotland and Wales. There are about 2,500 breeding pairs in the UK and their status is currently green.
7. Emberiza citrinella. This species is a small sparrow-sized member of the bunting family, the male being the most easily identifiable with its yellow head and white tail bars. This species is omnivorous and the male has a familiar song described as sounding like "a little bit of bread and no cheese" repeated over and over.

Answer: yellowhammer

Yellowhammers are mostly found in lowland arable areas where their food is plentiful. Although this species is locally common, between 1970 and 2000 the population crashed by 54%, putting this charming little bird firmly on the RSPB Red List.
8. Carduelis cannabina. This sparrow-sized bird of open farmland has a distinctive red breast and red forehead in the males, the females being more or less all brown. It has a fluttery undulating flight and twitters while on the wing.

Answer: linnet

Linnets were once kept as cage birds due to their melodious song. Although they are no longer trapped, in common with many birds of open farmland their numbers are in sharp decline and they are currently one of the many species on the ever lengthening RSPB Red List.
9. Apus apus. Most people think of this superb flier as being all black, but in reality it is a dull sooty brown. They very rarely land and even sleep on the wing. A summer visitor, they can be seen flying extremely fast through towns and built up areas with a high pitched screech commonly heard. A forked tail will help with identification.

Answer: common swift

The swifts' taxonomic name Apus comes from the Greek apous meaning "without feet" as they never land voluntarily on the ground. The heraldic martlet is based on a legless swift and was used as the symbol for the youngest son, symbolising his landless wandering.
10. Sturnus vulgaris. One of Britain's commonest birds, this species is at first sight a fairly dull black bird, but if looked at closely its feathers are a beautiful iridescent dark green with small white spots. Flocks contain thousands of individuals and can be seen performing elaborate manoeuvres before settling to roost.

Answer: starling

Starling numbers are boosted in winter when immigrants from northern Europe join the native population. Flocks on the Somerset levels have been estimated at three million birds and their seemingly co-ordinated flight behaviour is one of nature's great spectacles.
Source: Author mikew41

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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