Birding 101: History, Facts & Trivia for the Curious Birder

Greetings, Welcome fellow or aspiring birdies! You have found the ultimate tool for Bird Watching facts, trivia, and history that will assist you greatly in your quest to be a better bird watcher! The book is structured into Five Chapters - with each chapter containing some trivia questions and facts about birds. Each of these chapters is tailored to help you be a better bird watcher by introducing you to the act of bird watching, how to watch birds, where and when, physical attributes of common birds in North America, seasonal birds, and birds' behavior and breeding habits, etc. This book's major aim is to engage the readers through entertaining trivia quizzes - 50 questions per chapter - and well-researched fun facts about wild birds in North America. This book is well suited for every kind of reader - amateur or professional birders, complete newbies, or anyone with a keen interest in the act of bird-watching. As we go from chapter to chapter, we encounter some heartwarming personal stories shared by our fellow bird-watchers. This book is designed to be a personal companion for every bird watcher.  All ages are welcome to learn about bird watching and test out their knowledge via our good layout quizzes. The language and concept of this book were written with all age groups in mind - in a simple and yet educating manner. Most amateur birdies would find this book quite helpful as it tackles problems with the identification of some commonly misunderstood birds. Expert birdies would also appreciate detailed information such as the seasonal migration of birds and how to identify some of the rarest birds on the planet. Everyone no matter their level of expertise would find this book very helpful as it covers the most important aspect of bird watching. All the information provided in this book is well-vetted and accurate with a view toward educating the audience. The structure of the book is such that: every key element of bird watching is tackled chapter by chapter - From the identification of common and rare wild birds to Bird habitats and seasonal migration, to Backyard birds and birds as pets, to Birds' behavior. At the end of every chapter, 50+ engaging trivia questions are attached in addition to 15 fun facts about wild birds. These trivia and fun facts are tailored to keep readers interested.  For the lovers of fun trivia, it’s time to put on your trivia hat to see how many questions you can correctly answer about tricky facts and information about some of the most common birds in North America. See how well you know these 500 questions (10 trivia with 50 questions each) covering every aspect of wild birds with incredible facts about every species of our little feathered friends. Facts about their habitats, size, occurrence, unique behavior, activities, mating strategy, etc. would be covered in this book.  Your knowledge of historical timelines of birds' activities and extinction will be tested more than ever as the questions span as far back as the 1900s, and it also covers facts up to the present day. If you are a casual lover of birds, this book will make you become an expert (or close to one!) on all things related to wild birds. Even if you feel you already know a lot about wild birds, our trivia will test your knowledge limits. Should you get all or most of the trivia questions correct, you can proudly boast of being the most knowledgeable birdie in the world or a self-certified Ornithologist!  These questions were compiled with the help of professional and experienced bird-watching groups, online communities, and detailed research from well-vetted Ornithology sources. Some of the questions might be familiar to keen birdies with a solid history of bird quizzes. Yet you can be certain to find most of the questions new, unique, and quite tasking. The difficulty of the questions ranges from easy to medium to extremely difficult. Solutions to the questions are attached just underneath the questions, so you are advised to avoid skimming through the answers to avoid cheating. While North American birds are the main focus, don't be surprised to see questions about birds native to other continents in the trivia.  Our fun facts section is sure to bring fresh knowledge about some of the most random facts about your favorite birds that will keep you scratching your heads albeit in a flabbergasted way! These facts could be shared among your bird-watching groups or friends with similar interests in bird-watching. They would certainly enjoy them. At the end of reading this book, your knowledge of wild birds is sure to have been impacted. The information obtained would help greatly to improve your bird watching activity and make you a pro in the act of rare bird sightings.  So enjoy and make do with the bird-fully crafted content of the book! WHY BIRDS? Birds are mesmerizing little creatures that will suck you into their world. They have such beautiful songs and behaviors, not to mention they're everywhere! All this time spent watching these feathered friends just might make for better observation skills with everything else around us--trees become beautifully detailed images under HD cameras while flowers offer sweet aroma during summer months (and winter too). For people new to bird-watching, here are four great reasons to get into birding today: 1. Birding can be an inexpensive and educational hobby. All you need to get started with this enjoyable pastime are some binoculars, an ID guidebook for your region of interest (or create one), plus whatever other gear that suits what kind of bird watching adventures sound best in terms of travel hygiene or attire preferences - but don't forget those essentials! Once these initial investments have been made on equipment + guides; any additional costs will come from destinations' entrance fees alone or traveling expenses. 2. When you're looking for an adventure that won't take up much of your time or space, there's nothing better than bird-watching. The best part about this hobby? You can go anywhere and anytime! 3. The joy of discovery is in seeing something new and being able to name it. surprisingly, this takes very little work on your part! 4. Where there's a chance for bird-watching, you'll find other people too. It provides an opportunity to meet new friends and potential dates! Approximately 1 in 100 folks are interested in this hobby - so maybe your next love interest is waiting right around the corner?! According to a 1969 Birding Glossary in Birding magazine, the key terminologies of Bird-watching are as follows: Birder: The acceptable term used to describe the person who seriously pursues the hobby of birding. He/she may be professional or amateur. Birding: A hobby in which individuals enjoy the challenge of bird study, listing, or other general activities involving bird life. Bird-watcher: A rather ambiguous term used to describe the person who watches birds for any reason and should not be used to refer to the serious birder.  — Birding, Volume 1, No.2 BRIEF HISTORY OF BIRD WATCHING The late 18th century was a time when people began to be more interested in observing birds for their aesthetic value rather than just how they could provide food. This shift happened because of several reasons, including the works by Gilbert White and Thomas Bewick that featured detailed illustrations with nests filled up with eggs or babies trying out feathers on wings; George Montagu who wrote extensively about natural history throughout his life while also being responsible for many expeditions abroad seeking new specimens of birds. The phrase "bird watching" first appeared in print more than 100 years ago. It was written by Englishman Edmund Selous for his book “Bird Watching” which came out back then (1901). Before the scientific advancement of optics – for long-distance sighting - in North America, the identification of birds was once only possible by shooting the birds. With more technological advancements, there are now many methods for observing birds: such as using your naked eye or binoculars/telescope which will let you see the smallest details of each creature up close! You could also listen out for their calls so that they don't escape notice when walking around town - this is called "watchful waiting." Lastly, there is also the option of watching webcams online at certain websites where people post feeds from parks across America.  BIRD WATCHING EQUIPMENT  Should one be interested in actively watching birds; then they certain equipment that is a must-have to make the act of birding quite easier and more effective. Equipment such as binoculars or spotting scopes with tripods to help steady them, hides/blinds, observation towers, smartphones, notepads, field guides, etc. are used extensively in bird-watching. Birding Optics: For clear viewing of birds from long distances. We recommend a quality binocular (e.g Nikon Monarch Binoculars), a binocular neck strap or harness, and a bird spotting scope. Bird Identification Tools: used for easy identification of birds. Bird watchers are also advised to use bird field guides (e.g National Geographic's Field Guide to the Birds of North America). Some mobile apps can also help with bird identification. Bird Sound Equipment: These tools help identify birds from their sounds through which birders can locate, watch, or record bird calls. The latest in audio technology has made it easier than ever before for birdwatchers to record and identify the calls of their favorite feathered friends. These compact devices allow birder's pockets or purses small enough that they can fit one end into one jack pocket. Bird Photography and Videography Equipment: The digital video camera is an affordable and accessible tool for birding enthusiasts. These cameras can capture high-quality still images, record audio/video clips from start to finish, and reproduce a specific bird's visual characteristics. Remote Bird Watching: Various online communities have made bird watching from the comfort of your home a possibility. Robotic cameras and mobile phones make remote wildlife areas accessible. Projects such as CONE allow users to observe birds online. HOW TO BIRD 1. Familiarize yourself with local birds: You can better identify when something unusual comes along by learning the identifying traits of common birds around your neighborhood. 2. Find a Hot Spot: Finding the best spot to watch birds can be difficult, but some Hot Spots should not go unnoticed. For example, if you're looking for species such as woodpeckers or starlings then it might help your chances of finding these favorable habitats by going out on foot with an open Map and binoculars at hand! 3. Get the right equipment: A good pair of binoculars and bird field guides will help you spot all sorts of migratory creatures while out in nature. Also always make sure your shoes are suitable for walking on uneven terrain, too! 4. Timing: For some, the birds go where food is. And for these feathered folks that means moving from one end of our world (the Arctic) to another (Antarctica). Though you may have year-round residents in your neighborhood, there’s always a chance those types of wildlife can only be found during specific seasons when they're present at least partway through any given calendar month! The timing is very important. 5. Join a local birding committee or group.  6. Blend in: Wearing inconspicuous colors and being quiet is the best way to avoid scaring away birds. Make sure you stay still so that any wildlife can come to visit! 7. Practice: You don't need to be actively looking for birds when you can simply take note of the ones that pass by while doing other things outdoors or around your house. You might also notice some interesting facts about them! A STORY ON THE BENEFITS OF BIRD WATCHING Here is a story as shared by Bill Gideon: “Here’s how it all started: The first time I noticed wildlife in my backyard was during one of those long Zoom calls with friends. There were squirrels wreaking havoc on garlic I just planted, rabbits ravaging our peas — it suddenly hit me that this is what life would look like without people! Then I noticed a weird-looking bird! I couldn't identify this bird despite having seen it thousands upon thousands of times during my life? So after googling "bird identification websites" with poorly zoomed photo skills (because let's face it -this isn't something anyone should have ever had trouble identifying), suddenly there she stood before me: a beautiful redhead with sharpie markings on her white wings just waiting for empathy from every human being alive today... it was a female cardinal, One of the most well-known birds in North America.  This couldn't be right! My mind flashed back to homework from my high school days, when a PREP teacher challenged our class to count the number of gray cars on our drive home. As she predicted, it seemed that every other car I saw was gray that day! The lesson of the assignment, and one that I was rediscovering now: You see what you focus on. Today, we all have a lot of input. But it's not just the amount that matters; what you decide is important also impacts how much time and energy goes into processing those thoughts for yourself! After struggling with feeling like my brain was being pulled in too many directions at once - I wanted more control over sorting through everything that came up each day so I could focus on things worth paying attention to instead of letting society dictate how much information should be consumed without question or thoughtfulness towards its importance. Then I started browsing bird photographs on Reddit and then I became hooked. From that point onwards, whenever there were birds anywhere near me; whether it be in the sky or right outside my window where you can see them through an opening--I would always stop to take a look at what was happening up high! Why birding? How could I resist? The allure of a pastime with virtually no barriers to entry seemed extremely appealing. The only required tools any interested birder needed was: Your eyes Access to the outdoors A camera (for evidence or proof) The first time I went out to catch some birds, it felt like an adventure. From researching on the internet and making a list of all those that were nearby in my area for when we got closer so there would be no mistakes or forgetting anyone's favorites; then creating this Excel spreadsheet with what each species looks like alongside their song if possible-it made everything come alive! It's exciting because you never know who will walk through your door next week but still have yet another challenge ahead—the thrill isn't over until they're photographed successfully against every typewritten down under heaven. Learning to birdwatch is like a game of hide-and-seek with birds. You can be as competitive or lay back as you want, but the thrill of spotting one never disappears! My discovery recently has been 12 different types in just weeks - not bad for a beginner who's only had about 501 spots so far? And it gets better: The more common varieties still await me out there somewhere... The idea of spending years watching birds and experiencing the natural world authentically is new to me. There's no instant gratification in birding, so it is surprisingly calming when you know there are absolutely no controls over your outcome - just like a game! But with nature being so unpredictable (and sometimes even unfair) this hobby also has its thrill element mixed into that Wild Feel-good Experience we all crave from time to earn our prizes at last by chance. Since I started birding, the little things have become much more precious to me. It's not that "stopping to smell a rose" was unknown before - but knowing and experiencing are two very different concepts!  Should you start birding? Probably Yes. You can either be the best birder alive or learn to better appreciate your surroundings. But if you want a break from all that fast-paced excitement, try taking some photos of birds! Above All birding has been a great blessing to me as I got my latest job from a recommendation of a fellow birder!".... THE END” The above story shows how much Mr. Ben had grown since he encountered bird-watching as a hobby. Such a positive story is one out of countless ones that highlight the advantages of the noble act of birding. BIRD TRIVIA QUIZ Instruction: Try out our fun bird trivia for this chapter by answering the questions below. 1. Birds belong to which species group? (a). Cold-Blooded Vertebrates (b). Warm-Blooded Vertebrates (c). Cold-Blooded Invertebrates 2. ___________ gives birds the ability to fly? (a). Hind Legs (b). Bladder (c). Wings 3. They are around ___________ number of species of birds in the world? (a). Around 1,000 (b). Around 10,000 (c). Around 100,000 4. ___________ birds’ eggs are blue in color? (a). American Robin (b). Hummingbirds (c). Owls 5. ____________ bird has the longest lifespan? (a). Parrot (b). Eagle (c). Sparrow 6. ____________ bird can fly backward without relying on the wind? (a). American Robin (b). Kiwi (c). Hummingbird 7. Which of these birds is native to New Zealand? (a). Kiwi (b). Cockatoo (c). Ostrich 8. Which of these birds can only eat with its head in an upside-down position? (a). Woodpecker (b). Flamingo (c). Bluebird 9. Which of these birds is the largest in the world? (a). Bald Eagle (b). Flying Whale (c). Common Ostrich 10. . The heartbeat of a bird while flying is -. (a). 500 beats per minute (b).1000 beats per minute (c). 200 beats per minutes 11. What is the heartbeat of a bird while resting? (a) 300 per minute  (b) 100 per minute (c) 400 per minutes 12. Which of these birds is the fastest bird on earth? (a) The Peregrine Falcon (b) Black Sparrow (c) Eagle 13. Which of these birds lays the smallest egg? (a) Hummingbird (b) Cockatiels (c) Finches 14. What does Oology mean? (a). The study of bird's behavior (b). Study of birds’ eggs (c). Study of bird's habitat 15. Which is the national bird of the United States? (a) Bald Eagle (b) American Robin. (c) Black Hawk 16. The name of the bird Turkey originated from ___________? (a) Turkey (b) Mexico (c) The United States (USA) 17. Which of these birds has legs but can't walk? (a) Sparrows (b) Kiwi (c) Hummingbird 18. Which of these birds' eyes are larger than its brain? (a) Vulture (b) Owl (c) Ostrich 19. Birds wings evolved from ___________? (a) Hind limbs (b) Feathers (c) Forelimbs 20. Other than wings what other systems in birds are adapted for flight? (a) Digestive system (b) Respiratory system (c) Both Digestive and Respiratory system 21. Which continent is best known for bird watching? (a) South America (b) Africa (c) Europe 22. Birds are originally descended from which vertebrate class? (b) Mammals (b) Reptiles (c) Fishes 23. Which of these birds is capable of sleeping while flying? (a) Owl (b) Sparrow (c) Albatross 24. Which of these virtues did birds symbolize in the days of old? (a) Nobility (b) Purity (c) Power 25. Which of these birds is most famous for its sexual selection? (a) Eagle (b) Peacock (c) Dove 26. Which is the most talkative bird in the world? (a) The west indies Parrot (b) The African Grey Parrot (c) The Pacific Green Parrot 27. Which bird cannot move their eyes? (a) Vulture (b) Eagle (c) Owl 28. Which bird can fly underwater? (a) Puffins (b) Sea divers (c) Black Sparrows 29. How many times a woodpecker can peck in a second? (a) 5 (b) 10 (c) 20 30. Which is the only bird with a bill longer than its body? (a) The Sword-billed Hummingbird (b) The Sword-billed Sparrow (c) The Sword-billed Raven 31. How much height can a typical ostrich reach? (a) 1.8 meters (b) 2.2 meters (c) 2.7 meters (d) 3.5 meters 32. Which bird shares the same name with a kind of red color and an American baseball team from St Louis?  (a) Hawk (b) Jay (c) Cardinal  (d) Oriole 33. Which group do the kiwi, emu, and cassowary (all flightless birds) all belong to?  (a) Wrynecks (b) Ratites (c) Perching birds (d) Cave birds 34. This bird is black and white, intelligent, steals shiny stuff, and its Australian version has a poor reputation. Name the bird? (a) Magpie (b) Swallow (c) Hummingbird (d) Thrush. 35. Which of these names are birds in the order Strigiformes most commonly known?  (a) Pheasants (b) Chicks (c) Chickens (d) Owls 36. Which of these corvids is the largest?  (a) Falcon (b) Jackdaw (c) Raven (d) Owls 37. This bird is a grey and white bird, mostly found in cold climates, with a scientific name of Sterna paradisaea? Name it? (a) The Great auk (b) The Gray Jay (c) Bald Eagle (d) Arctic tern  38. Which of these birds is known to hunt/feed on trunks from trees while upside-down?  (a) Nuthatch (b) Magpie (c)Raven  (d) Eagle 39. What is the common kind of toucan bird? HINT: it has a big orange beak.  (a) Keel-billed toucan ( b) Black-breasted toucan (c)Choco toucan (d) Toco toucan 40. Which of these birds lives almost entirely on fish and has a brown and white plumage? HINT: the sea hawk is its nickname. (a) Osprey (b) Black Stallion (c) Goshawk (d) Black Sparrow 41. Though it is an urban legend that they can break a man's arm, swans still can get very aggressive when threatened or if their young are being protected. One particularly angry bird, in particular, became notorious for terrorizing rowers on River Cam - often leaving them with cuts and bruises as well causing canoes to capsize! What type of Swan did this guy turn out to be? (a) Trumpeter swan  (b) Mute swan (c) Black-necked swan (d) Whooper swan 42. The Eurasian magpie and the Australian magpie are members of the same bird family? (a) True (b) False 43. The Mighty Eagle of the ‘Angry Birds’ game is not just a bird. It can kill animals much bigger than itself! One particular eagle has been known to do favors for its favorite birds in return for some fish tinned at their home-land over there somewhere near Russia or found mostly across northern Asia where food sources are scarce but Gamelynx always seems happy enough when our friends show up on his radar screen. Which eagle is this?  (a) Steller's sea eagle (b) Sanford's sea eagle (c) Martial eagle (d) Pallas's fish eagle 44. Which kind of hummingbird, found in North America, will intimidate and chase away large insects, other hummingbirds, and even larger songbirds who invade its territory? HINT: They are usually red, rather than blue and pretty aggressive for a small-sized bird. (a) Anna's hummingbird  (b) Rufous hummingbird (c) Speckled Hummingbird (d) Magnificent hummingbird 45. The cassowary, a flightless bird with the potential to kill or severely injure humans has been seen in several regions. Its large size and strength make it one of if not THE most dangerous creature on this planet! The explosive blackbird called bomb also poses danger because not only do its foot claws grow up 5 inches long but they're incredibly sharp too which means you don't want any near your fleshy parts (or anything else really). Where can you most likely find these birds? (a) Africa (b) Asia (c) Oceania (d) Antarctic 46. The Secretary Bird doesn't hunt its prey from the air, but on foot. As well as small mammals and insects it also takes snakes! This leggy African raptor can kill anything that gets in its way including gazelles or even other birds of prey who think they're safe because they have big wingspans. How does it do this?  (a) Bashing their heads against a tree (b) Kicking, stamping, and pecking them to death (c) Dropping them from a great height 47. The European herring gull is a pesky bird that flies around in British coastal towns during the nesting season. They dive-bomb people and snatch food right out of their hands with their talons! What is this behavior called?   (a) Metaparasitism (b) Superparasitism (c) Kleptoparasitism (d) Cryptoparasitism  48. When people think about vultures, they usually imagine an ugly bird with bad teeth and dirty feathers. But the bearded vulture is far removed from this perception! It has striking red eyes that can pierce through your soul or make you feel as though there's nothing left to live for when it looks at you like those things are hauntingly familiar... The truth behind its reputation doesn't even touch on what goes down in some cases between these creatures - sibling rivalry comes first before anything else: adults often kill their offspring if one becomes too powerful during competition over food sources (or just because). This 'cainism' isn't something only seen amongst kids either; many adults will eat other adults. Which of these facts about the bearded vulture is NOT true?  (a) It has killed ungulates by forcing them off cliffs (b) It kills tortoises for their meat by dropping them from a great height (c) Bone marrow is a large part of its diet (d) It attacks and kills lambs 49. We have heard of guard dogs, but do 'guard geese' also exist?  (a) YES (b) NO 50. The hooded pitohui can be found in forests around Australia and has toxic skin which makes it unpalatable to pigs. It doesn't use its claws or wings as weapons but instead carries chemical poison on its feathers for protection against hungry animals. (a) True (b) False 15 FUN FACTS ABOUT BIRDS 1. Crows are excellent at recognizing human faces, especially those that have been associated with negative experiences. They even seem to resent a single individual and will show it by scolding them or even staring coldly while they walk past! 2. The eyes of ducks and woodcocks are located on either side, giving them a 360-degree range. 3. A murder or congress is like a bunch of crows. A parliament, wisdom, and study are gatherings for owls! Flamboyance can be compared to collections featuring flamingos as well-it's quite impressive if you ask me. 4. The Bald Eagle has the world’s biggest tree nest, spanning roughly 9 feet 6 inches (2.9 meters) wide and weighing nearly three tons! The American eagle may not be able to fly as far or see as well but when it comes down to building its home for future offspring that will eventually grow up into birds themselves - they know exactly what needs doing." 5. Flamingo birds stay together for the rest of their lives. Some couples have been together for over fifty years. 6. The fieldfares are a unique flock in the bird world because of their tactic for victory. They surround an opposing bird and force it down to earth, where they perform what's called "the business end" on top of their defeated enemy - which is just as nasty-sounding! The excrement from this act can be very dangerous too; it'll even kill another type of creature if given enough time. 7. There are approximately 9500 species alive right now but scientists have identified 30 groups they divide this large group into. 8. Woodpeckers are clever birds, with tongues up to 4 inches long! The woodpecker stores its tongue in a special hole on the back of its neck where it may be sandwiched between skull and skin. 9. The most common source of protein for humans is poultry (birds reared for meat and eggs). 10. When a male Frigate bird wants to find a mate, he inflates his crimson neck pouch. The size of this organ can grow up to the size of someone’s head! 11. The Malleefowl is a bird so environmentally conscious that it builds its nest out of the compost. The heat from this pile cooks the eggs and warms them through to allow for incubation! 12. The loss of flight among birds has been a historically intriguing phenomenon. There are many reasons for this, but one is that it provides several advantages when living in environments with low food supply or limited space to fly over - which means they can live comfortably without needing as much sustenance from their diet! 13. The number of birds killed by cats each year in the United States is staggering. Cats kill anywhere between 1 and 3 billion; with the average projection being around 2 billion! 14. The Sooty Tern is an extraordinary bird that spends the majority of its life in flight. It takes off over water and flies for at least three years without touching down on land or sea, even if it's just to nest! Swifts are also known as “airspace engineers" because they can sleep while flying with their wings extended onto air currents. 15. The beta-carotene in their crustacean and plankton diet gives the flamingos their pink hue. ANSWERS TO TRIVIA QUESTIONS: 1.B 2.C 3.B 4.A 5.A 6.C 7.A 8.B 9.C 10.B 11.C 12.A 13.A 14.B 15.A 16.C 17.C 18.C 19.C 20.C 21.A 22.B 23.C 24.C 25.B 26.B 27.C 28.A 29.C 30.A 31.C 32.C 33.B 34.A 35.D 36.C 37.D 38.A 39.D 40.A 41.B 42.B 43.A 44.B 45.C 46.B 47.C 48.B 49.A 50.A

Wild Birds can be classified into various groups based on their color, habitats, types, etc. In this chapter, our focus will be centered on the classification and identification of common wild birds based on their colors and natural habitat. A. CLASSIFICATION BASED ON COLOR Birds can be classified into Black birds, Red birds, Blue birds, Yellow birds, etc. for easy identification. The first thing that helps in identifying any bird is their unique color, hence it is very important to familiarize oneself with the various classes of bird coloring. 1. Black Birds Black birds are more aggressive and more feared compared to other birds. They are also one of the most intelligent kinds of birds. Common Examples include Ani birds, Blackbirds, Bobolink, Cuban Bullfinch, Buntings, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Cormorants, Cowbirds, Shiny Cowbird, Crows, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Grackles, Kingbirds, Ravens, Wagtails, Black Phoebe, Swifts, etc. 2. Blue Birds Some of the most attractive birds are blue birds, such as bluebirds and the bunting bird families. Some males of certain bird species also fall in this category. Common Examples include Bluebirds, Buntings, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Scrub-Jays, Swallows, certain Kingfishers, Martins, Blue Jays, Warblers, etc.   3. Brown Birds Brown-colored birds are found in most families of bird species. Females of various bunting families are also brown. Common Examples include Female Buntings, Brown Jay, Sparrows, Pipits, Thrashers, Thrushs, Towhees, Wrens, etc. 4. Gray Birds Common Examples include Greater Antillean Bullfinch, Bushtit, Gray Catbird, Chickadees, Flycatchers, Gnatcatchers, Juncos, Nutcrackers, Nuthatches, Savannah Sparrows, some Thrushs and Vireos, House Wren, Solitaire. 5. Green Birds Common Examples include Flycatchers, Greenfinch, Parakeets, Red-crowned Parrot, Vireos, Green Jay, Green Kingfisher, and Orange-crowned Warbler. 6. Orange Birds Common Examples include Northern Red Bishop, Red-flanked Bluetail, Brambling, Fieldfare, Tufted Flycatcher, Black-headed Grosbeak, Eurasian Hoopoe, Oriole, Common Redstart, Redwing, American Robin, European Robin, Western Spindalis, Stonechat, Eyebrowed Thrush, Varied Thrush, Eastern Towhee, Spotted Towhee, Veery, etc. 7. Red Birds Common Examples include Rose-throated Becard, Eurasian Bullfinch, Painted Bunting, Northern Cardinal, Red-crested Cardinal, Common Chaffinch, Red Crossbill, White-winged Crossbill, Common Rosefinch, Cassin's Finch, House Finch, Purple Finch, Vermilion Flycatcher, European Goldfinch, Pine Grosbeak, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Pyrrhuloxia, Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll, Tanagers, Red-faced Warbler. 8. Yellow Birds Common Examples include Bananaquit, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Yellow-breasted Bunting, Yellow-breasted Chat, Dickcissel, Saffron Finch, Warblers, etc. B. CLASSIFICATION BASED ON HABITAT AND LIFESTYLE Wild birds can be classified based on their natural habitat or lifestyle. Certain birds leave in swamps or oceans while others live in forests or fields. Familiarizing oneself with the different types of birds and their most popular habitat choices would help in a successful bird-watching career. Knowing where you are likely to see a bird makes it easier to seek after such a bird. Birds can be grouped into the following groups based on their lifestyle and habitat: 1. Birds of Prey As their name suggests, this group of birds feeds on other birds. Birds of prey include the Condor, Eagles, Falcons, Harrier, Hawks, Osprey, shrikes, vultures, Long-legged Buzzard, Crested Caracara, Eurasian Hobby, Kestrels, Kites, Merlin, Owls, etc. 2. Exotic Birds These birds are very colorful and quite exotic. They make the most attractive kinds of birds. Common Examples include Northern Red Bishop, Budgerigar, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Chukar, Cockatiel, Cockatoos, Saffron Finch, Helmeted Guineafowl, Rosy-faced Lovebird, Scaly-breasted Munia, Mynas, Parakeets, Common Peafowl, Black Swan, Peacock. 3. Field, Forest, and Stream Birds These birds are commonly found in fields, forests, and streams. Common Examples include Anis, Northern Red Bishop, Blackbirds, Bluebirds, Bluethroat, Bobolink, Brambling, Budgerigar, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Buntings, Cardinals, Catbird, Chiffchaff, Chuck-will's-widow, Cowbirds, Crows, Cuckoos, Dickcissel, Dipper, Doves, Fieldfare, Flickers, Goldfinches, Grackles, Grassquits, Greenfinch, Eurasian Hoopoe, Jackdaw, Kingbirds, Kingfishers, Larks, Longspurs, Rosy-faced Lovebird, Magpies, Martins, Meadowlarks, Mockingbirds, Munia, Mynas, Nighthawks, Nightjars, Orioles, Common Pauraque, Parakeets, Sparrows, Stonechat, Starling, Swallows, Swifts, Thrashers, Wagtails, Waterthrushes, Waxwings, Northern Wheatear, Wrens, Wrentit, Yellowthroats. 4. Game Birds This group of birds has been hunted by humans for food as game birds. Common Examples include Northern Bobwhite, Plain Chachalaca, Chukar, Grouses, Helmeted Guineafowl, Partridges, Common Peafowl, Quails, Ring-necked Pheasant, Prairie Chickens, Ptarmigans, Sage-Grouses, Snipes, Snowcock, Wild Turkey, Woodcocks. 5. Marsh Birds Most marsh birds have long toes which give them the ability to walk or run in wetlands and grasslands. Common Examples include Anhinga, Bitterns, Cranes, Gallinules, Northern Jacana, Jabiru, Limpkin, Common Moorhen, Rails, Sora, and Swamphen. 6. Shorebirds Shorebirds can be seen along the water's edge or sandy and rocky coastlines of the oceans and mudflats. Common examples include American Avocet, Curlews, Eurasian Dotterel Dowitchers, Dunlin, Godwits, Common Greenshank, Killdeer, Knots, Northern Lapwing, Phalaropes, Plovers, Oystercatchers, Redshanks, Ruff, Sanderling, Sandpipers, Stilts, Stints, Surfbird, Tattlers, Double-striped Thick-knee, Turnstones, Whimbrel, Willet, Yellowlegs. 7. Waterfowl All these birds have webbed feet or lobbed feet to enable them to live in water bodies. Common Examples include Coots, Brant, Ducks, Eiders, Geese, Grebes, Loons, Mergansers, Scoters, Swans, Teals. STORIES ON BIRDWATCHING: Edwin an avid bird-watcher shares his story of how he came to be a birdie. "My dad had suffered from dementia at age 59 and it was a bad moment for the whole family. Thereafter the Doctors advised he took to brain-stimulating hobbies like bird watching. My dad had joined the Illinois South Birdies group. Within the first few months of activity, a great improvement was recorded in his memory usage. On one of my visits back home, I followed my dad on one of his bird trips. We were stationed on a large lawn looking at the birds from afar. At first, the whole thing look dull to me yet I kept on watching via my binoculars. Then a loud excitement among the group erupted with everyone taking video or images shots of some birds from afar. On asking a member beside me why the sudden excitement, I had learned that a rare kind of Australian Kiwi had been spotted. I had taken my camera to get some cute images of these rare birds. After about an hour of sightseeing, we took a break. I and my dad took our snacks while sharing our thoughts A beautiful young lady approached us and asked for a few bites of sites. We shared little bites from which we discussed our interests, recent happenings in town, and some political events. As we chatted, I couldn't see my dad again - and I panicked! Frantically, I paced around the lawn searching for my dad with the fear of the worst rumbling in my head. The young lady joined me in my search, trying to calm me down. Alas, after about fifteen minutes of search, we saw my dad talking with a fellow aged member on a picnic mat. I had a short conversation with him and he told me he had left because he wanted the two of us - me and my new friend - to hit it off. With a chuckle, he dismissed me with the assurance that we would meet at the end of the bird-watching thing exercise. For the rest of the bird look-out, I was with Martha - my newfound friend - and we enjoyed our time together. After the end of the day's activity, we bid ourselves goodbye with a short hug. I continued following my dad to his bird events while on the holiday where I get to see Martha every time. When my six weeks holiday came to an end, I had to leave Illinois for California. I and Martha exchanged our final goodbyes for the year. We still kept in contact with one another all through my time in California. I had joined a birdie club over here in California and was eager to share my bird-sighting experiences with her over the phone. Surprisingly, with each passing month, I became more interested and enjoyed bird watching more. I came to peace with my newfound hobby and even opened a personal bird blog for sharing my bird stories. On my next visit to my dad after about 8 months, I reconnected with Martha. We exchanged how we felt about each other. I proposed and she accepted. She was 25 then while I was 27. It has been over 20 years now. We are still going strong and observing our bird-watching hobby with a larger crowd now - our five kids. As my fifty years birthday draws nearer, I can't help but thank my now-late dad, for introducing me to the art of observing our feathered friends in the skies. I love you Dad, I love Birds, and I will forever love you, Martha." BIRD TRIVIA QUIZ 1. Which of these birds serves as a symbol of happiness? (a) Dove (b) Kiwi (c) Bluebird 2. A young penguin is known as _________? (a) Chick (b) Pen (c) Penglet 3. The study of birds is known as ____________? (a) Ornithology (b) Aveology (c) Oncology 4. The longest feather ever seen on a chicken occurred where? (a) Mexico (b) Japan (c) Australia 5. The ratio of a bird’s lungs to its body is ________________?   (a) one-fifth (b) one-tenth (c) one-third 6. Which of these birds has the longest bill in the world? (a) Sword-billed Sparrow  (b) Australian Pelican (c) Sword-billed Raven 7. Owl can be found on every continent except where? (a) Antarctica (b) Asia (c) Africa 8. __________ is birds' greatest biological killers in the U.S? (a) Wild Dogs (b) Cats (c) Snakes 9. Which of these birds drums its beak against a tree? (a) Hummingbird (b) Raven (c) Woodpecker 10. How many ants can a green woodpecker consume in a day? (a) about 100 (b) Up to 2,000 (c) Over 10,000 11. Which of these birds has the most feathers? (a) Whistling Swan (b) American Robin (c) Doves 12. Which of these birds is the fastest swimming bird alive? (a) Gentoo Penguin  (b) Antarctica Penguin (c) Ostrich 13. A typical robin lays how many eggs per clutch? (a) 8-10 (b) 10-15 (c) 3-5 14. __________ is the average lifespan of Cockatoos? (a) 40 years (b) 75 years (c) 120 years 15. Which is these is the most spectacular structure ever built by any bird kind? (a) Eight Wonder of the World (b) A Sociable Weaver Nest (c) An Underground Weaver Nest 16. __________ is the weight of a typical Ostrich’s egg? (a) 3-4 pounds (b) 6-7 pounds (c) 8-10 pounds 17. Roughly how many chicken eggs makeup one Ostrich egg in weight? (a) 12 (b) 18 (c) 24 18. Ostriches swallow _______________ to help digest their food? (a) Worms and Earthworms (b) Small stones and Pebbles (c) Plant seeds 19. How small is the size of a typical Hummingbird egg? (a) Pea-sized (b) Golf Ball sized (c) Rice seed-sized 20. A red earlobes Chicken would produces ___________ eggs. (a) Red (b) Brown (c) White           21. _____________ is NOT a reason why most birds do migrate? (a) For Tourist visits (b) To source food supply (c) For breeding purposes (d) Changes in weather conditions. 22. __________ is NOT a reason why male birds sing?  (a) Mating attraction (b) To entertain humans and animals alike (c) To deter other male birds (d) To claim his territory 23. How fast can the Peregrine Falcon go? (a) 100mph (b) 150mph (c) 240mph  (d) 320mph 24. Why do some species like the gulls rapidly stamp their feet on areas of grass etc.?  (a) As a stress relief mechanism (b) To draw worms in the soil closer to the surface (c) To warn all other birds of danger (d) Just a normal routine dance specific to birds. 25. All birds build their nests themselves? (a) True (b) False 26. Which one of these is not a function of feathers in birds?  (a) Display (b) Flight (c) Respiration (d) Respiration 27. Which unusual breeding behavior are Phalaropes (a special group of wading birds) noted for?  (a) The males lay the eggs (b) These birds are hermaphrodites (c) The females give birth to live young (d) The females are more brightly colored than the males 28. "Birds of prey" are best known for ____________? (a) Being preyed upon or killed by other birds (b) killing/preying on other birds (c) Praying with their sweet voice (d) being herbivores 29. What does “anting”, a special behavior undertaken by birds, involve?  (a) Deliberately encouraging a colony of ants to attack a rival bird (b) Picking up ants and rubbing their feathers with them (c) Ripping open anthills to find and eat the grubs (larvae) (d) Forming huge social breeding colonies rather like ants do 30. Why did space explorers never send birds ever into space like other animals (e.g monkeys)?  (a) Hygiene considerations (b) Birds are difficult to contain and they might interfere with instrument panel (c) They might fly off and start mutating on the moon (d) Birds need gravity to swallow *From questions 31 to 40, using the clues provided, get the correct birds described.* 31.  1) Humans with great eyesight compare their quality of sight to these birds.  2) It is the most common bird found on world countries' national flags 3) Ben Franklin described one species as "a bird of poor moral character." Do you recognize this bird? (a) Turkey (b) Loon (c) Raven (d) Eagle 32.  1) It possesses one of the highest metabolisms of warm-blooded vertebrates. 2) The Calliope type is North America's smallest bird. 3) Aztecs believed dead warriors were reborn as them. Do you recognize this bird? (a) Dodo (b) Robin (c) Hummingbird (d) Skylark 33. 1) The Kittiwake species of this bird nests in ledges on beachside cliffs. 2) In the 1800s it saved Utah crops by eating grasshoppers. 3) A 1970 bestseller by Richard Bach mentions this bird in its title. Do you recognize this bird? (a) Thunderbird (b) Swift  (c) Sandpiper (d) Gull 34. 1) They include bull, gold, and purple types. 2) Darwin discovered 14 related species on the Galapagos Islands. 3) Shares its name with the first posthumous winner of an acting Academy Award. Do you recognize this bird? (a) Martin (b) Partridge (c) Parakeet (d) Finch 35. 1) Name may be from Welsh for "white head". 2) One species can dive underwater up to 900 feet. 3) A popular cartoon was created by Walter Lantz. Do you recognize this bird? (a) Roadrunner (b) Penguin  (c) Woodpecker (d) Cormorant 36.  1) This is the only bird whose nostrils are located at the end of its beak. 2) Its tiny, vestigial wings are hidden in its feathers. 3) Ermines and rodents that were released to help control the rabbit population have reduced this bird's numbers. Do you recognize this bird? (a) Kiwi (b) Cassowary (c) Moa (d) Sparrow 37.  1) It weighs up to 33 lbs. with a ten-foot wingspan. 2) Alcatraz is Spanish for "island of" these birds. 3) A popular book and movie from the 1990s refer to this bird in its title. Do you recognize this bird? (a) Albatross (b) Pelican. (c) Woodcock. (d) Vulture 38.  1) This bird is in the subfamily Anserinus from which we derive the word anserous meaning silly. 2) Before being replaced by metal tips, pens were made of their feathers. 3) The Toulouse breed is particularly popular at Christmas time. Do you recognize this bird? (a) Peacock. (b) Pheasant. (c) Goose (d) Duck 39. 1) The tawny type can see prey by the light of one candle 500 yards away. 2) The Athene genus contains four species. 3) A famous nonsense poem by Edward Lear mentions this animal in its title (and we're not talking about the cat).   Do you recognize this bird? (a) Owl (b) Nightingale (c) Bat (d) Stork 40. 1) Its name comes from its ability to copy the songs of other birds. 2) It is the state bird of five southern U.S. states. 3) Famous novel claims you can "kill all the blue jays you want" but to kill this bird is a sin. Do you recognize this bird? (a) Mockingbird (b) Thrasher (c) Mynah bird (d) Cardinal 41. What does the acronym RSPB mean? (A) Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (B) Royal Society for the Protection of Bodies (C) Religion of Standard Protection of Birds     42. What is the portion of the birds' population that can be found in the rainforest habitat?  (A) 1/2 (B) 2/3 (C) 2/5 43. The Hoatzin bird is found in which habitat? (A) The Amazonian rainforest (B) The Savannah rainforest (C) The Himalayan rainforest 44. ___________ is the most frequently-sighted bird in the UK (Britain)? (A) The Common Raven (B) The British Sparrow (C) The House Sparrow 45. Which of these is a major reason why birds sit on their eggs? (A) To house them (B) For easier carriage (C) To keep them warm 46. The major mineral/material composition of Bird shells is __________? (A) Iron (B) Calcium (C) Potassium 47. ___________ is the only bird that is capable of recognizing itself in a mirror? (A) Eagle (B) Parrot (C) Magpies 48. Do birds have teeth? (A) True (B) False      49. Birds are said to be descendants of what species? (A) Mammals     (B) Reptiles (C) Dinosaurs 50. Which of these species of bird is only capable of eating with its head upside down? (A) Hummingbird (B) Flamingo (C) Owl   15 FUN FACTS ABOUT BIRDS 1. Vultures are the only birds that can digest dead bodies. Their stomach acid is 10 to 100 times greater than human beings, and it's exceptionally powerful for removing Anthrax from corpses! 2. The game Angry Birds has sold over 7 million copies on Apple’s iPhone. It was created by a four-person team that took almost 8 months to complete, and it's such a low priority for them! 3. A flock of Ravens is considered a “conspiracy” or “unkindness”. 4. One of the world's rarest and smallest hummingbirds, the Esmeraldas Woodstar was assumed to be extinct from 1912 until 1990 when it resurfaced again. At just 212 inches long (5 feet), this tiny bird can make your heart beat faster with fear that it may not exist anymore! 5. North America's biodiversity is at risk due to climate change, which threatens the extinction of about 2/3 (two-thirds) of birds in North America. 6. Over the years, there have been countless incidents where birds and planes collisions occurred. Each year this results in millions of dollars worth of damage to aircraft as well as human life lost because someone was piloting at a time when they shouldn't have been! The 1st recorded case happened back then during testing by Orville Wright who hit a bird causing his death just moments later... 7. The mockingbird is often seen as an innocent creature, and it's no wonder why. The novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee features this bird prominently in the storyline 8. Owls are the only bird that can see directly behind them. They have eyes so powerful, that they're unable to swivel! The wings on an Owl's body also sport soft fringes which makes flying almost silent for this speediest of flyers. 9. Though the name “eagle-eyed” might indicate that eagles have excellent eyesight, only one bird out of multiple species can match human sharpness. Wedge-tailed Eagles can see 212 times better than we can! This may be because they're equipped with loupe lenses on their feathers which allow them to view things at much greater distances without any distortion or hustle required; plus those corrosive acid tears help too. 10. The death of 500,000 birds annually at wind farms is a sobering statistic. Every year 10 thousand more are killed virtually all of which can be attributed to migratory bird acts in America's West Coast region - where Altamont Pass located on California’s Silicon Valley forms part of an important route for many types both breeding and passage-transiting species between North American continent & Pacific Oceans. 11. The falcon is the fastest bird in its dive, traveling at nearly 110 mph on average. 12. The bird with an interesting name, the Archaeopteryx is thought to have been around 150 million years ago during a time when dinosaurs roamed Earth. It had characteristics that are similar but not exactly like those present in modern birds which make it the oldest original bird. 13. The Inland Rail is the smallest flightless bird. This flightless creature lives on Tristan da Cunha, an Atlantic Ocean island with a tiny human population and crushing weather conditions most days! The little guys only grow to 5 inches long (although females are usually smaller than males), which makes them perfect for life there- they don't need much space or resources because their metabolism is slow enough so even though you might see two or three per day at best during migration times outside these remote islands' boundaries.  14. Some scientists think that birds descended from dinosaurs around 150 million years ago during the Mesozoic Era. 15. The Phoenix, is a bird that has been associated with fire and rebirth in many cultures across the world. In Egyptian mythology, it's Equuleus (also known as The Phoenician) who turns into ashes upon their death and then is reborn from those same remains after hundreds of years have passed, hence the phrase: Rise from the phoenix. ANSWERS TO TRIVIA QUESTIONS: 1.C 2.A 3.A 4.B 5.A 6.B 7.A 8.B 9.C 10.B 11.A 12.A 13.C 14.B 15.B 16.A 17.C 18.B 19.A 20.B 21.A 22.B 23.C 24.B 25.B 26.C 27.D 28.B 29.B 30.D 31.D 32.C 33.D 34.D 35.B 36.A 37.B 38.C 39.A 40.A 41.A 42.B 43.A 44.C 45.C 46.B 47.C 48.B 49.B 50.B

Birds are similar to us humans in that they have similar humane characters. They can sing, talk, cry, migrate for varying reasons, protect their offspring, mate, observe their surroundings, etc. Due to these abilities, birds make one of the best companions for humans as pets. For those who wouldn't like to keep caged bird pets, there are other options like attracting them to your backyards (hence the term backyard birds) through various attracting techniques that would be discussed in this chapter. Every bird has a unique habit be it how they sound (birds’ chirpings are distinct and could be used for identification purposes); their migration probability - some birds are seasonal while others occur round-the-year; feeding habits; or singing abilities. a. SEASONAL BIRDS (Migration of Birds) Seasonal birds are birds that can be found in an area every specific season. These birds could stay over the Northern part of the continent during the summer seasons before migrating down south during winter periods. Birds migrate due to any of the following reasons: 1. To take advantage of different food sources: Birds migrate during the season to take the most advantage of food sources in various locations due to seasonal differences. For example, seed-eating birds are bound to migrate from their original habitat during the cold season which affects seeding formation in plants, to other climes of the continent or world where they can easily find growing plantations to feed on. These back-and-forth migration tactics help to ensure to these birds get fed adequately throughout the year. 2. Breeding Purposes: Certain birds are termed “summer birds” while others are “winter birds” due to their visibility in each season. The optimum mating temperature and environmental factors make these birds migrate during the year for better breeding potential. During the breeding season of birds, swamps of these birds can be seen flying together to a better clime hence; this greatly affects the chances of sighting such birds in their breeding period. 3. For safety reasons: Birds also migrate for security and protection. When these birds' habitats are being preyed upon by predators, they are left with no choice but to change their habitat to a safer one. Predators are more likely to cause long-term damage to a flock of birds due to continual deaths, so migrating in such circumstances is a usual move taken by such endangered birds. 4. To escape harsh weather conditions: A change in weather conditions from a suitable condition to an unfavorable one could make many species of birds migrate from such locations. Like in extreme hot summer periods or extreme snowing winter periods, it is common for birds to migrate across continents to find more suitable environmental climes. This migration strategy is usually very predictable by birdies and can be planned ahead to maximize sighting certain rare bird species. b. ATTRACTING BACKYARD BIRDS Birds can be drawn closer by attracting them through feeds, songs, or other techniques. You can attract birds into your backyard with these common foods: Suet, Fruit, Millet (Panicum miliaceum), Peanut, Corn/Maize, Milo, Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), Niger(Guizotia abyssinica), Sunflower (Helianthus annuus), Sunflower Hearts (Helianthus annuus), Mixed Birdseeds. c. BIRDS UNIQUE BEHAVIOR Every bird has its unique behavior. Identification of birds from such behavior is quite easy provided one is familiar with them. The sounds of a night owl are very unique as compared to the talks of a parrot. When it comes to sound identification, it is recommended to obtain a bird audio guide of the varying sounds of local birds found in your area. In general, birds are highly intelligent creatures and can sense dangers when noticed or followed by humans. For this reason, getting extremely close to a bird or a flock of birds could chase them away. As a bird watcher, observing from a reasonable distance is a must. STORIES ON BIRD WATCHING: Here are some stories shared below by some active bird watchers, about the challenges of spotting local birds due to migrating factors: From Sarah: “Migration is an exciting time for bird lovers as they watch their favorite feathered friends travel far away from home. The Northern Cardinal doesn't migrate, but the Blackburnian Warbler does! It begins its journey in western South America and makes its way through Central America up into Canada before moving on to southern Michigan or even Maine at times (if you're lucky). Ruby-throated Hummingbirds start near Central American borders--but don’t worry about them migrating all over this continent because most will stay within guitarist range; however, some do venture farther than others with white throats and green breasts tones. The Sandhill Crane is one of the most iconic birds in North America. This migratory crane flies to Canada every year from its breeding grounds in Texas and Florida, but instead of flying west across the United States as many people think they do - which would take them over huge distances by themselves- this bird travels northwards through Mexico before finally heading east towards newfound land: Alaska! As if that wasn't incredible enough already...the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher also makes an appearance during these journeys thanks thus fly catching talent which means there are some pretty amazing feats happening here at times when you least expect them (namely right now). Maybe it has something to do with diet? The smallest birds on this list, Hummingbirds migrate long distances. In addition, the Scarlet Tanager and Blackburnian Warbler also winter in western South America while others prefer central or eastern parts of North America; but why some go east while others west is unknown to me. The first time I saw a migrating bird, it was as if all the camera lenses in my life came alive. There were so many different colors and shapes that had been tucked away for years just waiting to be seen by me-if only temporarily before they headed out across some vast wastes where no one else could ever find them again! I’ve spent spring and fall looking at maps of migration paths trying to guess which way these particular birds would fly next -and sometimes even getting lucky enough to capture an image with my phone's built-in front-facing camera because good luck finding something this small when you're desperate”. According to Tommy: “When he decided to concentrate on waterfowl, Tom had lived next door and wanted to pick birds that were unfamiliar to him. Two of them -the Long-tailed Duck (which has only been introduced in the last 4 weeks)and Red-breasted Merganser--are here during the non-breeding season which means they will leave again soon until next fall; but there is one more winter bird-Canvas Back-, so far I haven't found any yet but maybe it's already flown off towards its breeding grounds? It’s March 31st now. The Northern shoveler and the American pigeon fly here to breed, so Tom will have to keep his eyes open to see if he can find them. The last bird, a Gadwall can be found there all year round. So he's going to look for them too.”  From Lucy: “During the colder months, it's not just about physical features changing. The males of some birds go through a transformation as well! In autumn and wintertime, both American Goldfinches (a type ornamental) have muted colors with striking patterns compared to their summer counterparts who sport bright yellow breast patches surrounded by black wings bars; these differences can be seen clearly when you compare photographs from earlier in each season--but what happens? All that glitters isn't gold after all... And then there’s Loons - They're pretty much unchanged throughout any given year except for one thing: Whether or not they breed successful fully incubated eggs. The loon is a bird I have never seen in the winter. It changes its colors from black and white stripes on top of greenish-tinged feathers to plain grey tones with scalloping at either end, which remind me that they are still there waiting for when it gets colder!” From Rebecca: “I used to go only during summer, but now I can visit the park any time of year. Double-crested cormorants are always there in abundance; however, after this season, they'll be absent from their home base forever! There's also killdeer that come around for breeding purposes--and if you're lucky enough then perhaps some American Woodcock or Great Blue Heron might show up too (although please don't count on it). And finally...I have Mourning Doves living right outside my door! The Carolina Wren is an elusive bird that I've only seen in the spring and summer. They love my garden, but they disappear for weeks at a time during winter - may be on vacation? The field guide map says this small songbird spends its life here year-round (which seems kind of sad), so why don't you ask them when they'll be back again next season before going anywhere else!”    BIRD TRIVIA QUIZ 1. Growing up in Indiana, I often spotted this member of the plover family. It's not uncommon for these birds to protect their nest by feigning injury and scaring off predators with fake blood stains on it! (A) mockingbird (B) killdeer (C) red-winged blackbird (D) robin 2. Even though I live in Texas, it was still an amazing experience to see this bird dipping and swooping for insects. The way that its head is gray with a long tail just makes the whole scene so fascinating! Which of these birds fits this description? (A) scissor-tailed flycatcher (B) great crested flycatcher (C) western kingbird (D) eastern phoebe 3. The small, yellow-breasted bird with rust back and bluish wings are often found perching on telephone wires in Oklahoma. This falcon's size makes it one of America’s most commonly seen raptors! (A) red-tailed hawk   (B) prairie falcon (C) kestrel (D) merlin  4. The large white head and tail of this bird make it unmistakable. They are usually seen in company with ravens, but can be found anywhere there is meat on offer! (A) golden eagle (B) trumpeter swan (C) willow ptarmigan (D) bald eagle 5. These birds are beautiful. I've seen them in my backyard, eating everything off of trees including the leaves and flowers! They're larger than their southern cousin with brown feathers on top but having yellowish-white underbellies paired alongside black wing markings make for an eye-catching display when you look up into flight mode; especially if they have those cinnamon accents at their rear ends which give off quite a unique appearance compared to other types around here—though it might be hard not get distracted by all these gorgeous visuals because there's one right outside your window (just saying). (A) golden-crowned kinglet    (B) Bohemian waxwing (C) common redpoll (D) Steller's jay 6. When I spotted this large bird drinking from my hummingbird feeder one day, it took me by surprise because they are usually so difficult to spot. The solid black tail and golden crown made its white underbelly stand out nicely against the orange body coloration that is characteristic of all birds in general but Setoph Lilium color group specifically--the better known western counterpart can often be found around human habitations where there are more food sources close at hand! (A) evening grosbeak  (B) MacGillivray's warbler (C) hooded oriole (D) western kingbird 7. As I drove along the panhandle of Florida, my destination for this bird's marching Season was in sight. The males are brightly colored with the red underside and blue head while having greenish-yellow backsides that make them stand out from other bunting species seen here before. What type do you think it is? (A) indigo bunting   (B) painted bunting (C) lazuli bunting (D) varied bunting   8. The Florida black-headed bird was easy to see (and hear) when visiting the beach. It's the largest of all dark-headed gulls, with a hilarious call that seems like they're laughing at you! (A) ring-billed gull  (B) herring gull (C) common blackbird (D) laughing gull 9. The brilliant colors of this bird made it easy to spot from far away, and when I got closer I realized just how beautiful they were. The red feathers matched perfectly against his black wings and tail; there's probably not another creature in all creation as stunningly exquisite as it is, plus you can hear it sing from pine trees. (A) red-winged blackbird  (B) summer tanager (C) scarlet tanager (D) northern cardinal 10. We were driving through the Mojave Desert when I spotted this little owl sitting alone on a rock by side of the road. His sandy-brown color and long legs made him easy enough for me to identify, even without having seen one before! (A) barn owl (B) elf owl (C) burrowing owl (D) spotted owl 11. What kind of bird is this? It has an interesting color combination- yellow with black and white wings, tail, or even head. The male thistle feeder regulars will often welcome visitors by being extremely bright during breeding season when they're covered in vibrant feathers! (A) American goldfinch    (B) lesser goldfinch (C) pine siskin (D) dickcissel 12. The male of this next bird is an enchanting deep blue with black-striped wings and tail. They're a bit shyer than other birds, so we tend to see them only in spring or summer when they winterize their warmer homes for longer periods at higher elevations where it's more comfortable! Both males resemble sparrows in size but have some interesting differences- like how their color ranges from dark brownish tones through various shades until near adulthood where you'll notice lightening up along most parts except those highlighted by strips such as stripes across the belly region which become completely unmatched anywhere else. (A) eastern bluebird   (B) indigo bunting (C) blue grosbeak (D) mountain bluebird   13. Next up we have one of my favorite tiny southeastern feeder birds. Quick and agile, they can be told by their black caps and bibs with white faces! They also emit a call that is used to identify them- what do you think it sounds like? (A) tufted titmouse    (B) Carolina chickadee (C) chestnut-backed chickadee (D) gray catbird 14. These birds are often very aggressive towards one another; even the females and they will frequently dive-bomb each other in order to keep possession of what appears to be prime feeding territory anywhere east of Great Plains! Can you name it? (A) Allen's hummingbird   (B) broad-tailed hummingbird (C) ruby-throated hummingbird (D) yellow-bellied sapsucker  15. The next bird we find at our local feeders is another beautiful blue bird, but this time with a rusty throat and breast. Though they have been seen eating insects or berries (being insectivores), it's often spotted in an open field near the house where their partners spend plenty of time trying to find them their ideal home by mounting houses specially made just for these birds who have frustrated photographers everywhere because you can never get to pick one home.  (A) mountain bluebird   (B) eastern bluebird (C) blue jay (D) blue grosbeak 16. This bright-red bird with a black face and crested head is quite common in the East, but it's not hard to find them anywhere else! The female has brown markings that make her appear duller than the males. (A) scarlet tanager  (B) rose-breasted grosbeak (C) northern cardinal (D) purple finch 17. This next bird is another one of my favorites at the feeder. It's quick and perky, often seen in company with other birds like chickadees. I'm not sure what it exactly looks like but you can tell that these guys have interesting coloration because they're light gray on their sides while having a small crested head as well as being tan-colored all over elsewhere (including the underbelly). They stay at a particular location all year round even in the winter season.   (A) plain titmouse (B) white-breasted nuthatch (C) chipping sparrow (D) tufted titmouse 18. Can you tell which bird it is? This little fellow has a very big song for such an adorable package. The southeastern states are his home, and he's got the typical brown back with light tan undersides that look like they were painted on! His bright white collar around yellow eyes makes him stand out from other birds in this region- can you guess what state he comes from without looking at our hint below... (A) Carolina wren   (B) brown cowbird (C) brown thrasher (D) white-breasted nuthatch 19. Have you ever seen a bird that is brown with black feathers? If so, then this may be the one. The female looks like an overweight sparrow while males have brighter colors and longer bills to identify them individually in their natural habitat! (A) northern cardinal   (B) rose-breasted grosbeak (C) evening grosbeak (D) black-headed grosbeak 20. The common bird is often seen at feeders, picking up small grains tossed out by other birds. It's known for its "whistling" noise when taking off in flight and making an early morning cry that resembles tears of joy! (A) white-winged dove   (B) rock dove (C) mourning dove (D) band-tailed pigeon 21. We spent many lazy Saturday afternoons fishing on a small lake, where we often spotted this long-legged grayish-blue waterbird hunting by the shore. It had a large size and white head that made it easy to be identified!  (A) Louisiana Heron    (B) Great Blue Heron (C) Cattle Egret (D) Wood Stork 22. They say the most annoying thing in Texas? I would have to agree. This wide-ranging mimid would sing at 1 am, making it nearly impossible for me to sleep! Can you name him/her?  (A) Brown Thrasher (B) Northern Mockingbird (C) Tufted Titmouse (D) Gray Catbird 23. Next up it's a move to Oklahoma, where we often encountered this pretty bird with its bright yellow breast and black bib or "V" on its chest. The deep colors of brown or white sprinkled back and his singing ability made him easy enough for me to identify! Can you name it?  (A) Yellow-breasted Chat    (B) Yellow-headed Black Bird    (C) Western Meadowlark (D) Evening Grosbeak 24. Which One of these Jays can be identified easily by its black, crested head and blue back and tail?  (A) Steller's jay    (B) Blue jay (C) Scrub jay (D) Gray jay 25. He had an extremely long bill, heavily stripped back, and a white underside. His short orange tail made him look more unique. Mostly found in riverbanks, bogs, and marshes. Your guess?  (A) Semipalmated Plover (B) Avocet (C) Wilson's Snipe (D) Upland Sandpiper 26. We were amazed to see hummingbirds in the high desert, and ones so different from what we're used to. The male of one species has an audacious black throat! Can you name him? (A) Costa's Hummingbird  (B) Black-chinned Hummingbird   (C) Anna's Hummingbird (D) Calliope Hummingbird 27. I always love seeing this bird; he's got an instantly recognizable feature like his large, fluffy-crested head with a white belly and throat. He also got a long and heavy bill. He seems to prefer the bayous near the water with fish dining on their menus!    (A) Green Kingfisher  (B) Belted Kingfisher (C) Osprey (D) Great Egret 28. The strong wind and dark sky made it difficult to spot this bird, but I was able to see its large size from my live oak tree. The bright red-crested head gave it away against the black background of its feathers as well! Can you make a guess?  (A) Common Flicker  (B) Pileated Woodpecker (C) Red-headed Woodpecker (D) Northern Cardinal 29. The small fly-catching bird was spotted zooming around in my freshly sodded backyard. It has a rust-colored belly that differentiates it from other similar-looking birds, such as the Flycatcher species who are also brown but have blue or green undersides of their wings instead! Make a guess?   (A) Eastern Phoebe (B) Say's Phoebe (C) Western Flycatcher (D) Ash-throated Flycatcher 30. The male western hummingbird has long, violet throat feathers that extend out from his sides. What kind best suit this description?   (A) Anna's Hummingbird (B) Costa's Hummingbird (C) Rufous Hummingbird (D) Black-chinned Hummingbird 31. ______________ is often found standing in freshwater areas or salt marshes. It occasionally feeds on fish, frogs, and snakes but its main diet consists of smaller animals like mice or shorebirds! (A) American Bittern   (B) Great Blue Heron (C) Sandhill Crane (D) Canada Goose 32. ___________ is often found riding the back of a cow. HINT: it is white in color.  (A) Green Heron (B) Cattle Egret (C) Bewick's Wren (D) Orchard Oriole 33. The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is a safe haven for this magnificent bird. It has been listed as critically endangered and only exists because of the efforts put in by people like you who care about its future! (A) Sandhill Crane   (B) Mute Swan (C) Glossy Ibis (D) Whooping Crane  34. The green head male of this species is by far the most common type of duck worldwide. (A) Pintail (B) Ruddy Duck (C) Canada Goose (D) Mallard 35. __________ can be easily recognized by their large, colorful bill?  (A) Marsh Hawk (B) Forster's Tern (C) Atlantic Puffin (D) Black Skimmer 36. Collectively, they're called a covey. When these birds are frightened and try to escape human attention, instead of flying off, they run in another direction! (A) Mallard (B) California Quail (C) Turkey (D) Ruffed Grouse 37. ______________ is a family member of the Cuckoo family, that's long-tailed and fast on its feet. It feeds primarily off of snakes or lizards, but it will eat other things if the occasion calls for it! (A) Belted Kingfisher   (B) Roadrunner (C) Mourning Dove (D) Bobwhite 38. This small bird is no bigger than a sparrow and has what looks like two black eyes on the back of its neck. (A) Barn Owl (B) Burrowing Owl (C) Great Horned Owl (D) Northern Pygmy-Owl 39. _____________ is rated as one of the most intelligent of all birds by we humans. HINT: it's a black bird. (A) Grackle (B) Common Crow  (C) Starling (D) Brewer's Blackbird 40. These birds are easy to tell apart because the male has red feathers with black wings and tail while the female resembles a yellowish-green color. (A) Northern Oriole    (B) Painted Bunting (C) Western Tanager (D) Scarlet Tanager 41. __________ is also another name for the house sparrow?  (A) English Sparrow   (B) Brewer's Sparrow (C) Chipping Sparrow (D) Field Sparrow 42. This flycatcher has long, streaming plumes that are reminiscent of a cobra. (A) Western Kingbird   (B) Great Crested Flycatcher (C) Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (D) Say's Phoebe 43. Which female hummingbird builds its nests out of sticks and leaves, but it is not quite finished when the eggs need to be laid. So she builds up again while incubating!   (A) Allen's Hummingbird   (B) Rufous Hummingbird (C) Anna's Hummingbird (D) Ruby-throated Hummingbird 44. Which one of these doves sounds so sad that it was named after its sad call? (A) Ground-Dove (B) Rock Dove (C) Mourning Dove (D) White-winged Dove   45. The males of this bird have a brightly colored head with an impressive white collar. The female is smaller and brownish in color (A) White-tailed Ptarmigan   (B) Vermillion Flycatcher  (C) Say's Phoebe (D) Ring-necked Pheasant 46. This scavenger bird is one of the most magnificent fliers in this world. It's not uncommon at all for these guys to be seen soaring overhead, rocking slightly from side to side as they go! (A) Red-tailed Hawk    (B) Screech Owl (C) Swainson's Hawk (D) Turkey Vulture 47. Pick the duck with a blue bill?  (A) Ruddy Duck (B) Wood Duck (C) Common Merganser (D) Black Duck   48. Pick the shorebird that possesses a sickle-shaped bill?  (A) Long-billed Curlew  (B) Greater Yellowlegs (C) Willet (D) American Oystercatcher 49. The loud-sounding plover is one of the few birds that builds its nest on open ground. It has a name reflecting how it sounds in an attempt to warn others when danger approaches, such as "clapper," which comes from their call sounding like someone clapping hands or striking metal objects together (or sometimes even wood). Can you name it? (A) Semi-palmated Plover (B) Snowy Plover  (C) Killdeer (D) Black-bellied Plover  50. ______________ is well known for its laughing and yodeling sounds?  (A) Western Grebe   (B) Greater Shearwater (C) Common Loon (D) Leach's Storm-petrel 15 FUN FACTS ABOUT BIRDS FLIGHT 1. The Sooty Tern is a bird that can fly in the air and even sleep while doing so. At first glance, it is difficult to believe that this bird could sleep while flying. But upon closer inspection, you will find them snuggled up in their own little world of dreams with nothing but the wind and stars for company! 2. The beauty of birds is something that has been a fascination for people since time immemorial. They are able to sleep on tree branches without fear because their feet curl around the twig they stand upon automatically when lowering themselves down towards its base, thus avoiding any danger from dropping off while asleep! 3. Merrythought? I thought you might be interested in this. A bird's wishbone ( aka "merrythought") is actually its fused collarbone! The strongest fliers have the widest angles of their collarbone. 4. The difference between bird species can be explained by their bone structure. For example, some birds that dive into the water have much heavier long bones than other types of the feathered creature because they need to support more weight when diving deep for food or avoiding predators near the surface of lakes and oceans. Some swifts fly fast enough so aren't subjecting themselves too greatly within this human-created environment but still require plenty of air supply nonetheless! 5. Migratory birds have been known to fly in formation because it saves energy, and facilitates orientation and communication among themselves. One of the most common shapes is “V” or jagged echelon patterns which are also called alignments for their resemblance; these formations can be seen all over nature from trees toppling over during strong winds due to Crash Dove populations being depleted by human activity, to flocks forming together against predators like corners do at airports    6. The albatross has been called the ship of heaven because it can fly for hours without moving or flapping its wings. 7. The Kori Bustard is the world's heaviest bird. It weighs about 31pounds (or 14 kg.), with an average measured weight of 20 pounds per square inch- which means these big birds can fly! But they don't usually leave their home range unless there are absolutely no other options available - because flying takes such effort and short spans between stops make long-distance flight impossible.  8. Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly backward under power, registering a negative speed. They do this by extending their wings horizontally while turning round in mid-air; it takes them quite some time to turn around but when they're ready for another go...you'll hear those quiet engines hummin' away! 9. Hummingbirds are incredible creatures, with the ability to beat their wings over 52 times per second! 10. The shape of an animal's wings can make all the difference in how high it flies. The first humans to discover this were Australian Aborigines who invented a tool called boomerangs around 3100 BC! 11. Imagine being able to fly faster than the speed of sound. It's an amazing feeling and one that I'm sure would take your breath away if you got up close with these birds! Spine-tailed swifts can reach 100 mph (161 kph) while mergansers are clocked at an impressive 101 km/h or 62 mph 12. The Rufous Hummingbird is a tiny bird that has the incredible ability to migrate from Alaska all over Mexico in just 3 years! It's not even 4 inches long, which makes it one of our smallest migrant species. The journey itself takes around 6 months and can be as far away as 2200 miles (3500 km) if you're lucky enough for them to stop off on migration grounds along their way. 13. Lighthouses are incredibly dangerous for birds. The glass lenses attract them, and many have been killed when they fly into it in misty conditions or attempt to land on the lighthouse's surface! 14. Birds know winter is coming because they can sense changes in hormones, the length of the day, and air pressure. 15. The fastest animal is the Peregrine Falcon with a maximum speed of up to 240mph (390 Km/h) ANSWERS TO TRIVIA QUESTIONS: 1.B 2.A 3.C 4.D 5.B 6.C 7.B 8.D 9.C 10.C 11.A 12.B 13.B 14.C 15.B 16.C 17.D 18.A 19.B 20.C 21.B 22.B 23.C 24.A 25.C 26.B 27.B 28.B 29.B 30.B 31.B 32.B 33.D 34.D 35.C 36.B 37.B 38.D 39.B 40.D 41.A 42.C 43.C 44.C 45.D 46.D 47.A 48.A 49.C 50.C