Amazing Bird Facts from Around the World Quiz

Answer: Red-headed bunting (Emberiza bruniceps)

The red-headed bunting (Emberiza bruniceps) is a small passerine found mainly in Asia and eastern Europe. It is not a brood parasite but is occasionally used as a host species by the cuckoo.
In Europe the most well-known brood parasite is the cuckoo (Cuculus canoris) which lays its eggs in other birds nests, particularly reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus). Once the young cuckoo hatches it ejects the hosts own eggs and/or young and develops rapidly as the frantic foster-parents try to keep up with its demands.
Black-headed ducks (Heteronetta atricapilla) live in South America particularly in Chile, Paraguay and Argentina. The females lay their eggs in the nests of other water birds, particularly the rosybill (Netta peposaca) and various coot species. Unlike the cuckoo, the young black-headed ducks do not eject the hosts' own eggs or young. After approximately 21 days they hatch and are almost immediately completely independent.
Other species of ducks such as the canvasback (Aythya valisineria)and the American red-head (Aythya americana) are known to be opportunistic brood parasites. The females will lay their eggs in the nests of other ducks if given the chance but will also incubate their eggs in their own nests.
The black-headed duck is the only duck species which is an obligate brood parasite.
The North American brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) lays its eggs in an astonishing number of different bird species' nests. It has been recorded as having used over two hundred different hosts ranging from hummingbirds to small raptors.

Answer: Successful breeding pairs attempt to kidnap rival pairs' chicks

Ostriches (Struthio camelus) are the world's fastest-running birds and have been reliably recorded at speeds of some 40-45 mph (70-75 kph). They can outrun many predators at that speed but cheetahs can run at 65 mph (102 kph). A cheetah would be very wary of tackling a fit adult ostrich however as an ostrich kick could easily kill or severely injure any unwary predator.
The ostrich is not found in the wild in Asia, it is only found in central and southern parts of Africa. At least five distinct sub-species have been identified.
The myth that ostriches bury their heads to avoid danger goes back to at least Roman Times. Pliny the Elder wrote that they would hide their heads in a bush if they spotted danger. Ostriches will often feed or pick up pebbles from the ground so it is possible the stories stem from this. Being logical, any species that doesn't keep a look-out for danger is unlikely to last too long!
Almost more remarkable is the fact that ostrich pairs fight with each other for control of each others' chicks. The winners' family grows ever bigger and can eventually contain several hundred chicks kidnapped from many families.

Answer: New Zealand storm-petrel

The New Zealand storm-petrel (Oceanites maorianus) had not been seen since the mid-nineteenth century and was long thought to be extinct.
No-one is sure where these birds have been breeding for all these years, the likelihood is that they breed on remote islands off the Hauraki Gulf, north of New Zealand. As they are thought to be a largely nocturnal species this explains why no-one saw any for so long, (plus the fact that no-one was really looking for them!).
The passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) is an extinct North American species which once was numbered in millions.
The great auk (Pinguinus impennis) was an seabird which once was found in huge numbers. Sadly it too is now extinct.
The slender-billed curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) is a critically endangered species of wader for which time may have already run out.

Answer: True

The largest butterfly in the world is the rare Queen Alexandra birdwing (Ornithoptera alexandrae) which is found in Papua New Guinea. Adult females can have a wingspan of approximately 12 inches (30cm) and have a body length of 3.3 inches (8 cm). They weigh about 12 grams (0.42 oz).
The smallest bird in the world is the bee hummingbird (Mellisugs helena) which is dwarfed both in terms of size and weight. It is only 2 inches (5cm) long and weighs in at around 1.8 grams (O.06 oz).
The heaviest flying insects are probably goliath beetles which weigh in at an impressive 80-100 grams (3-3.3 oz).

Answer: They are all the sole representative of their particular family

Some species of birds present problems for taxonomists and a few have been moved from one genus or family several times. These four unrelated species, although similar in some respects to other families, are so sufficiently different that they are put into their own individual family.
The osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is a raptor which specialises in eating fish. It is found in every continent except Antarctica. It is also a migrant species throughout much of its range. It is related to both the hawks (Accipidae) and the falcons (Falconidae) but because of its unique characteristics it is placed in the genus Pandion in the family Pandionidae where it is the only member.
The wallcreeper (Tichodroma muaria) is a small bird found in various mountain ranges in Europe and Asia including the Alps and the Pyrenees. Its nearest relatives are the nuthatches (Sitidae) but it is sufficiently different to be placed in its own family; Tichodromadidae. It feeds mostly on insects and other small creatures.
The secretary bird (Saggitarius serpentarius) is found in Africa, mostly in sub-Saharan habitat. It is largely a ground bird but is placed in the Falconiformes order. It is so different from other members of this order that it is placed in its own order of Saggitariidae. It feeds on small animals including mammals, lizards and snakes.
The palmchat (Dulus dominicus) is the national bird of the Dominican Republic and is common on th island of Hispaniola. It is a small bird related to waxwings but is placed, by itself, in the Dulidae family. Palmchats feed mainly on berries and other fruits.

The amount of time the male spends incubating the eggs can vary greatly from species to species. In some species, including some ducks, the male takes no part in either incubating or feeding the young. Compare this to male emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsten) who spends two months incubating the single egg through the worst of the Antarctic weather.

Answer: Oilbird

The oilbird (Steatornis caripensis) is an unusual bird which (like those in question five) is placed in its own individual family, Steatornithidae. It bears some resemblance to nightjars, Caprimulgidae. Oilbirds are found in northern parts of South America and on some Caribbean islands such as Trinidad.

It feeds on fruit by night and roosts in caves by day. At night it uses a series of clicks and other noises to navigate its way in and out of the caves and to its feeding grounds. Where conditions are right it is a very numerous bird with some cave roosts containing tens of thousands of birds.

The oilbird is so named because at one time the nestlings, or squabs, were gathered and rendered to produce oil.

Answer: Bar-headed goose

The bar-headed goose (Anser indicus) is a remarkable bird. Twice a year it migrates across the Himalayas from its Summer quarters in central Asia to its Winter home, mainly in India and Pakistan. Mountaineers on Everest are often amazed to see skeins of these geese high above the mountain. Bar-headed geese have specially adapted nasal passages and respiratory mechanisms to help them deal with the lack of oxygen at such heights (over 30,000 feet).
The whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus) is found in sub-Arctic Eurasia; it migrates south during Winter months.
The long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis) is a sea duck mostly found around North Atlantic coasts in both Europe and North America.
The bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica) is a type of wader and is another truly remarkable bird. It is believed that some bar-tailed godwits make the migration from Alaska to New Zealand in a non-stop flight, a distance of some 11,000 km.

Answer: The bittern's call can carry for a greater distance than any other birds' call

The Eurasian bittern (Botaurus stellaris) inhabits dense reed-beds. The male makes a very low booming call which can be heard from a very long way off and has been measured at 5 miles (8k). This makes the secretive bittern the bird whose call carries the greatest distance (just be glad pigeons aren't so loud!).
The bird with the longest beak is the Australian white pelican (Pelicanus conspicillatus). Some individuals have beaks measuring 19.5 inches (33 cm)!
The largest bird's nests are also found in Australia and is probably built by the ground-nesting orange footed scrubfowl (Megapodius rheinwardt). One such nest was estimated at being 60 feet long, 16 feet wide and 10 feet high!
The largest nest found in a tree was that of a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) in Florida USA. The nest weighed almost three tonnes.
No species of bird has one wing longer than the other. (Except possibly the mythical oozlum bird, which flies around in ever decreasing circles.)

Answer: It has poisonous skin and feathers

Although the hooded pitohui (Pitohui dichrous) had been known to science for many years, it was not until 1989 that it was discovered (by accident) that its feathers and skin contained a poison. A young student named Jack Dumbacher was conducting research on birds of paradise. A hooded pitohui which had been caught by accident scratched his hand. Some while later he must have put his hand to his mouth, later still his mouth went numb as if affected by a toxin. Further research confirmed that the hooded pitohui did indeed carry a neurotoxin on their feathers and skin. It was later discovered that two other species of pitohui also carry the same toxin. It is probable that the toxin originates from the choresine beetles which the birds eat. These are the only three species of birds in the world known to carry poison on their plumage.
Although some birds, notably harriers, ravens and rollers will turn upside down for brief moments when displaying, no birds can actually fly upside down.
No birds have teeth, and although some birds such as grebes make floating nests, no birds make their nests under the water.

Answer: African crowned eagle

Some vulture species such as griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) will readily scavenge human corpses but consume the meat at the site, They will not attack living people.
Several species of owl including eagle owl (Bubo bubo) will attack humans especially when protecting their young. This is a defensive strategy rather than an attempt at predation.
The Andean condor (Vultur gryphus)is often stated as being the largest flying land bird (although there are other claimants). It feeds almost exclusively on carrion.
A young child's skull has been reliably reported to have been found in a crowned eagle's nest in South Africa. Crowned eagles (Stephoaetus coronatus) regularly feed on large monkeys such as various colobus species. The birds kill and then dismember their prey before carrying off the various sections, either to consume themselves or to take back to their young. Crowned eagles are not normally considered carrion feeders. It is possible, but not proven, that the unfortunate child was alive when attacked, killed and eaten.