Bird Orders: How Much Do You Know? Quiz

Answer: buzzard

The name of the order Passeriformes (the passerine birds) comes from Passer domesticus, the scientific name of the house sparrow. This huge order, which represents about 60% of extant bird species, is divided in three suborders: the Acanthisitti (New Zealand wrens), the Tyranni (suboscines), and the Passeri (suboscines or songbirds). Passerines are also called "perching birds" because of the arrangement of their toes - three pointing forward and one back - which makes it easier for them to perch on tree branches or other supports.

Passerines are generally smaller on average than other birds. The short-tailed pygmy tyrant (Myiornis ecaudatus), a denizen of the Amazon basin, is the smallest passerine, and one of the world's smallest birds, while the common raven (Corvus corax) and the thick-billed raven (Corvus crassirostris) are the largest members of the order. Ravens and crows belong to the family Corvidae, swallows to the family Hirundinidae, and blackbirds to the family Turdidae.

Buzzards (genus Buteo), on the other hand, are members of the family Accipitridae of the order Accipitriformes, which includes most diurnal birds of prey. In the US, the name "buzzard" is generally applied to vultures.

Answer: green woodpecker

The order Piciformes includes nine families, the largest of which is the Picidae, the woodpeckers, wrynecks, and sapsuckers. These birds have extremely strong beaks for drumming on trees while foraging for insects, and powerful feet with four toes (2 pointed forwards and 2 backwards) to enable them to perch on posts and tree trunks. Like most other woodpeckers, the European green woodpecker (Picus viridis) privileges wooded areas with trees for nesting, and grasslands where plenty of ants are available. Toucans, which feed mainly on fruit, also belong to the order Piciformes (family Rhampastidae): their largest member is the toco toucan (Rhampastos toco), which boasts the largest bill relative to size of any bird.

The red kite is a bird of prey of the order Accipitriformes, while both the yellow warbler and the blue jay are passerine (Passeriformes) birds.

Answer: peacock

The order Galliformes (also known as landfowl or gamebirds) includes the world's most common bird species, the chicken ("gallus" meaning "rooster"). Other species belonging to this order, such as turkeys and quail, have been domesticated, while others are hunted for their meat. The peacock, or Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) belongs to the family Phasianidae, the largest of the five families in which the order is divided. This family, besides the domesticated birds already mentioned, also includes popular game birds such as pheasants, partridges, and grouse. All members of the order Galliformes have relatively large, heavy bodies, and are much better runners than fliers; in most species, males are larger and more colourful than females, and are known for their elaborate courtship behaviour.

The nightingale is a passerine bird, while hummingbirds belong to the order Apodiformes (which also includes swifts), and flamingoes to the order Phenicopteriformes - one of the smallest bird orders, comprising only one extant family.

Answer: whooping crane

The order Gruiformes is a diverse one, as it includes a number of bird families whose members have apparently little in common, and in some cases have been assigned to the order for lack of a more precise classification. The so-called "core" Gruiformes are those comprised in the suborder Grues, which includes the true cranes (Gruidae) - characterized by their long necks and legs - and the rails, crakes, and coots (Rallidae). Gruiformes are considered among the oldest of birds, and the order includes a large number of extinct species. The endangered whooping crane (Grus americana), the tallest bird in North America, is one of the 15 extant species of crane. Another member of the Gruidae family, the sarus crane (Antigone antigone), is the world's tallest flying bird.

The rock ptarmigan (the only bird species that turns white in winter) belongs to the order Galliformes. The cassowary, often given the epithet of "world's most dangerous bird", is a member of the order Casuariiformes, which also includes the emu, while the frigatebird is a seabird of the order Suliformes.

Answer: Canada goose

The Canada goose (Branta canadensis) is part of the order Anseriformes, also known as waterfowl. All these birds are characterized by their similar beak shape and their webbed feet. While a few species eat fish or invertebrates, most waterfowl are herbivorous; some are surface feeders, while others are divers. Together with Galliformes (the landfowl), they form the superorder Galloanserae, as they have some common features not shared by other bird orders: notably, they regularly produce clutches of more than 5 eggs, and their young are precocious. Like swans and ducks, geese belong to the family Anatidae, the largest of the three that comprise the order; the other two families are the Anhimidae (screamers) and the Anseranatidae (magpie-geese).

The three birds listed as incorrect choices are all waterbirds. The Arctic tern is a seabird of the order Charadriiformes (which also includes gulls and plovers). The white stork and the snowy egret are both wading birds, but the former belongs to the order Ciconiiformes, and the latter to the order Pelecaniformes.

Answer: shoebill

The Pelecaniformes order includes birds such as spoonbills, herons and, of course, pelicans. As a rule, these birds can live in both fresh or salt water surroundings, and use their diving prowess and sharp bills to catch and kill their prey. They are monogamous, and the young are cared for by both parents, as they hatch helpless and naked from the egg. The shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) - named after its huge, shoe-shaped bill - is the only extant species of the family Balaenicipitidae, one of the five families that compose the order. Pelicans, which are among the largest flying birds, make up the family Pelecanidae, while ibises and spoonbills are in the family Threskiornithidae, and herons, egrets and bitterns in the family Ardeidae.

The mallard, one of the most common duck species, is a member of the family Anatidae of the order Anseriformes. The osprey (also known as sea hawk or fish hawk) is a bird of prey of the order Accipitriformes that lives near water and feeds exclusively on fish, while the various species of kingfisher belong to the order Coraciiformes.

Answer: scarlet macaw

The birds of the order Psittaciformes are better known as parrots. The order comprises the superfamilies Psittacoidea (true parrots), Cacatuoidea (cockatoos), and Strigopoidea (New Zealand parrots). Parrots have clawed, zygodactyl feet (with two toes facing forward and two backward), and strong, curved beaks. Like crows and their close relatives, they are very intelligent birds, able to imitate human speech and other sounds; some parrot species are also capable of using tools and solving puzzles. Unlike other bird species, parrots do not exhibit any sexual dimorphism. The scarlet macaw (Ara macao) is native to Central and South America; characterized by its vivid red, blue, and yellow plumage, it is one of the largest parrot species, though not as large as the hyacinth macaw (Anodorhyncus hyacinthinus), which is the largest flying parrot.

The rufous hornbill is a member of the order Bucerotiformes, which also includes the hoopoes. The hooded crow is a passerine bird, while the great bustard belongs to the order Otidiformes.

Answer: wandering albatross

Though the birds listed are all seabirds, only the wandering albatross belongs to the order Procellariiformes (from the Latin "procella", meaning "violent storm"), which also includes petrels, storm petrels, and shearwaters. The birds in this order are also known as "tubenoses" because of the characteristic tubular shape of their nasal passages, which allows them to smell sources of food (such as plankton) while at sea. As they drink seawater, they also have a specialized nasal gland that helps them to remove excess salt from their system. Another important feature of Procellariiformes is their ability to minimize exertion when flying for long periods of time. The wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) is named after its extensive flights, which often involve circumnavigating the Southern Ocean: one of the largest of flying birds, it is known for its immense wingspan, which can reach almost 4 m (13 ft).

The Atlantic puffin belongs to the order Charadriiformes, while the great cormorant is part of the order Suliformes, which also includes gannets and boobies. The gentoo penguin, on the other hand, is a member of the order Sphenisciformes - which are all flightless birds.

Answer: barn owl

Owls form the order Strigiformes, divided in two distinct families: the barn owls (Tytonidae) and the true, or typical, owls (Strigidae). Found worldwide, these mostly nocturnal birds of prey are characteristically large-eyed, with disc-shaped faces and an upright stance. Owls are adapted for hunting at night, and are able to flight almost without making any noise; they also have binocular vision and binaural hearing. The smallest owl species, the elf owl, is more or less the size of a sparrow, while the largest species (the Eurasian eagle-owl and Blakiston's fish owl) are almost as large as some eagles. The barn owl (Tyto alba) is commonly found almost everywhere; its most distinctive feature is its white, heart-shaped facial disk.

The dunnock is a small passerine bird similar to a sparrow, while the hobby is a smallish bird of prey of the order Falconiformes. The turkey vulture is a New World vulture, belonging to the family Cathartidae of the order Accipitriformes (which also includes condors) - though some sources place them in an order of their own, Cathartiformes.

Answer: pigeon

The order Columbiformes includes doves and pigeons, birds that are characterized by their small heads, short necks, and plump bodies. The order is very diverse, with worldwide distribution (except polar regions) and considerable variation in size. Some of the largest Columbiformes, such as the crowned doves of New Guinea, are almost as large as turkeys, while the smallest are the size of a house sparrow. The common pigeon (Columba livia), also known as rock pigeon or rock dove, is a medium-sized bird native to Europe, Asia and North Africa, introduced to the Americas in the early 17th century. An extinct member of this order was the dodo (Raphus cucullatus), a species endemic to the island of Mauritius: unlike most other Columbiformes, which are excellent fliers with very strong wing muscles, it was flightless.

Starlings are passerine birds. Cuckoos belong to the order Cuculiformes, which also includes roadrunners, while nightjars are members of the order Caprimulgiformes (which means "goatsuckers", a name by which these birds are occasionally known).