Phabulous Phasianoidea Trivia Quiz

Answer: Omnivorous

These birds will actually eat anything. Grasses, berries, insects, small reptiles and occasionally, another small bird. The Phasianoidea family includes ground dwelling birds such as pheasants, partridges, turkeys, and chickens.

Answer: Reddish-brown

This really very pretty bird is about 27 to 32 cm (11-13 in) in length, and weighs between 191-230g (6.7-8.1oz). Apart from its head being rufous (red), its breast and belly also have reddish-brown plumage, while distinctive black and white upper feathers cover its back, sides of breast and legs. The brown wings have black spots. The male has two spurs and the female just one.

It forages by itself or with one other bird and eats seeds, fruits, grasses and insects. The usual clutch size is 8-10 eggs laid in a domed, terrestrial nest.

Answer: South-East Asia

The red-billed partridge is diurnal and omnivorous and its average weight is around 600-700g (about 21-24oz). It is the only species of the genus Arborophila that has a completely red beak (which gives it its rubrirostris designation). It has a 'not at risk' status and has been reintroduced to other parts of Indonesia where it is also endemic.

Answer: Partridge

With a wide distribution, the partridge is endemic throughout parts of Europe, Asia and Africa. These medium-sized game birds nest and live predominantly on the ground. Some of the species have attractive plumage, but most exhibit grey, green and brown feathers.

In mythology, Perdix was the nephew of Daedalus. He was skilled in invention and this skill caused Daedalus to become jealous. Daedalus threw him down from the temple of Athena onto the Acropolis, intending to kill him. The goddess broke his fall and changed him into a partridge named for him - perdix.

Answer: Harlequin

The petite and lovely features of the harlequin quail give great camouflage for this ground-dwelling bird. It has a distinctive whistle that provides identification; a longer first "whit" note, followed by two quicker "whit" notes. Found predominantly in Africa, the introduction of domestic Japanese quail breeds threatens the endemic variety.

Answer: Bamboo partridge

The colourful bamboo partridge are native across Asia and are known for their cheerful song (c'mon, get happy!). There are numerous species of the bamboo partridge including the Chinese, Taiwan, and mountain but all are ground dwellers that forage in pairs. They are prolific in areas with dense undergrowth and vegetation, where they blend in and are hard to find. They are non-migratory.

Answer: Congo peacock

While the Congo peacock has a distinctive red throat and green back for both sexes, the male has a wonderful sapphire blue trim and a white crest, while the female has a spangled emerald green back and russet trim with a stripey black-and-russet tail.

The mating pairs often sing duets at night, but you need to travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo as the habitat of these rare birds is restricted to the central Congo Basin.

Answer: Sage

Sage grouse, now somewhat endangered, are also called sage hen or sage cock, sage chicken, or cock of the plains, from their habit of living on the ground in the plains regions of north-central and Western United States, and in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada. Their eggs are incubated under the cover of sagebrush.

The greater sage-grouse grow up to 3.2 kg (7 lb) and both the Gunnison and greater sage-grouse sport grey-black plumage that differ from male to female. They require unspoiled conditions to mate, and ranchers have in some cases been asked to graze their cattle elsewhere to enable the sage grouse to repopulate.

Answer: Chicken

The domesticated chicken (Gallus domesticus) emerged from the red junglefowl, and originated in India. They are kept both for meat and for their eggs, with varieties developed over the years specifically for one feature or the other.

While the term 'rooster' refers to the habit of perching aloft to sleep at night, the birds will not in general fly high (and are not capable of prolonged flight) and still nest on the ground. They have a preference for laying their eggs in established nests, and providing them with a 'hen-house' will satisfy this urge.

Answer: True

The Sri Lankan junglefowl is a shy bird that prefers to keep under cover. The male has spectacular plumage with a blue-black tail, deep orange-red girth and yellowy shoulders. Its head has a prominent red comb marked with a yellow splotch. The female is much plainer, with predominantly brown feathers and speckled black and white on its underbelly or on its tail feathers.

It lays two to four eggs in the forests and scrub habitats it makes its home. Due to common ancestry with the domestic chicken, it has similar features and is of similar size.