The Canada Goose's iconic look of a brown body and wings accented by black and white head, neck, and tail is a very common sight across most of North America.

Let's start off with a VERY easy one. What species of bird is this?

Already in wide circulation in many revolutionary and foundational imagery, the Bald Eagle was an easy pick when deciding a National Bird for the United States of America.

Which bird is the national symbol of the United States of America?

The California Condor holds the title for the largest wingspan among birds in the United States, with a wingspan measuring a whopping 9 & 1/2 Feet! In comparison, the Bald Eagles wingspan reaches a maximum of 7.5 feet, the Sandhill Crane reaching 6.5 feet, and the American White Pelican just under 9 feet.

Which bird has the Largest Wingspan in the United States?

The Mountain Bluebird is the only one of the three species that doesn't have a red stomach or chest.

What species of bird is this?

A group of crows is known as a Murder. No one knows the exact origin of the term, but most assume old English influence about the roles crows played in folklore and witchcraft likely played a big part.

A group of Crows is called what?

It is true that owls can rotate their heads an incredible amount, but despite what many people say, that degree of rotation is not a full 360. No animal with a spine is able to rotate it's head 360°, due to several structural parts of the body that can't afford to be twisted so much, such as blood vessels and muscle tissue. But these blood vessels in an owls neck are more adapted to strain, and allow all owls to rotate their heads up to 270°.   As a side note, the reason for this neck swiveling adaptation is because owls eyes are so large, that they are actually more cylindrical shaped rather than a sphere, and are thus unable to move in their sockets. Having such a flexible neck makes up for this short coming.

Owls can rotate their heads 360°

Grapes don't naturally occur in North America, so grapes are not a natural part of any wild waterfowl diets here in the United States, but all ducks can eat grapes without issue. It is often a recommended snack for domestic ducks, and even mostly carnivorous ducks like mergansers can eat grapes and other select plant material from time to time.

No, but they do walk up to lemonade stands

Okay, but can ducks ACTUALLY eat grapes?

There can, in truth, be several reasons as to why male birds are more extravagantly colored than females. But, in a majority of cases, the primary reason comes back to sexual display. Typically, a male with brighter and more noticeable colors is more appealing to a female, because it showcases said males health and vitality.

So males can tell what other males are more fit, without needing to fight.

To attract a mate, via display of their feathers

A false warning to predators to trick them into thinking they're poisonous

In a majority of bird species, Males are more brightly and/or intricately colored than Females. In most cases, the PRIMARY reason for this difference is...

A hummingbirds diet is mostly nectar along with many types of small insects and arachnids to supplement for various vitamins and proteins.

(Select all that apply)

What do hummingbirds eat?

While they still have significant differences, at its core, a Raven is essentially a hawk-sized, more antisocial Crow. American Crows have an average wingspan of 33 to 39 inches (85 to 100cm), and an average weight of 0.7 to 1.4 lbs (11.2 to 20.9 oz). Measure that to the comparatively gigantic Common Raven with an average wingspan of 45.3 to 59 inches ( 115 to 150 cm), and average weight of 1.5 to 4.4 lbs (24.7-70.5 oz).

Which bird is larger?

The saying that the Robin is the first sign of spring is only a half truth. American Robins stay in forests in large groups during the cold season, feeding on berries. It's only when temperatures grow warm enough in spring that venture onto grasslands and lawns in search of earth worms.

They change habitats, staying in Open Grasslands for the cold season

They change habitats, staying in Forests for the cold season

Nothing, they stay in the same place and habitat year round

As summer gives way to autumn and then winter, where do MOST American Robins in the United States go?

Though it often calls in the morning hours, this bird is named Mourning Dove because of the low and sad way it's cooing sounds.

How is this birds name spelled?

Bald Eagles are in fact a type of eagle, but like Barn Owls, are technically not in the 'True' part of their genetic tribe. Bald Eagles are part of the group of eagles colloquially called 'Sea Eagles', sometimes also called 'Fish Eagles' for their primarily piscivorous diet and adaptations to fish hunting. The Bald Eagle is the only sea eagle in north America, but other examples of Sea Eagles are Steller's Sea Eagle, the White Tailed Eagle, and the White-bellied Sea Eagle.

'Sea Eagles' is not a group, that's made up.

The Bald Eagle is specifically a part of the group known as 'Sea Eagles', and is not a 'True' Eagle.

Owl wing feathers are fringed around their edges, which allows them to move through air without much resistance, thus not disturbing the air, and thus producing close to no sound. However, to further aid this silent flying, they seemed to have reduced or completely lost their oil glands that secret waterproofing oil to protect their feathers. This is not enough to prevent flight in light or average rain, but heavy rain or falling into water are not only able to soak the feathers enough to disable flight, but also add water weight which makes flying even more difficult.

In order to be able to fly silently, Owl wing feathers had to lose their waterproofing, so they can't fly when they get wet in the rain.

As of 2022, the number of bird species that regularly occur in the United States of America is 1,267.

(States only; not including territories like Guam)

Roughly how many bird species are found within the United States of America?

The Northern Cardinal just beats out the Western Meadowlark, with a total of 7 states selecting it as their state bird, compared to the Western Meadowlarks 6. The Northern Mockingbird is the one chosen by 5 states, and the American Goldfinch is chosen by 2.

Which bird is the most used as a State Bird in the US?

Canis latrans, the Coyote found in North America, has a top running speed of roughly 43 miles per hour, over double the speed of the Greater Roadrunners top running speed of 20 miles per hour. Coyotes do in fact hunt and eat roadrunners, but roadrunners can also fly to escape from them.

Is the Greater Roadrunner really faster than a Coyote?

Sometimes called "The Great White Heron", a completely white morph of the Great Blue Heron regularly occurs in Southern Florida and the Caribbean. A bird born as a white morph remains that way for it's whole life, but still retain the hair-like feathers on the chest and back of the head.

The Norther Bobwhite is the only species of quail regularly found in the eastern half of the continental United States of America. The Ruffed Grouse is also commonly found there, but is not itself a quail, though is a close relative. Named after the sound of their song, these birds have a wide range, but their eastern populations are on a steep decline.

Only 1 species of Quail lives in the Eastern United States. Which species is it?

The Osprey was long considered a Fish Hawk or a Fish Eagle, but more recent studies using genetics have shown it is in it's own group amongst the raptors.

The Osprey is a type of what?

Hummingbirds beat their wings at an incredible 70 beats per second. That's up to as many as 4,000 per minute!

Just how fast do Hummingbirds beat their wings?

Recent surveys suggest that New York City more than likely now has the largest concentration of Peregrine Falcons on earth. The city established "The Peregrine Falcon Program" to help the birds bounce back locally after a sharp decline during the first half of the 20th century.

Which City in America is now believed to hold the largest urban population of Peregrine Falcons in the world?

The Rock Dove is the 7th fastest flying bird in the world, just behind the Red-breasted Merganser, and just ahead of the Gray-headed Albatross. Although often their primary source of food, and even more often seen as dumb and helpless, Rock Doves are often able to outflank and escape a hunting Peregrine, reaching a top recorded speed of 92.5 mph (148.9 km/h). The fastest animal on earth hunts feral pigeons, and even it can't always catch them.

While Peregrine Falcons are easily the fastest bird and fastest animal, another common city dweller is the 7th fastest bird. What species is it?

This is a tricky one for those less aware of waterfowl. The Cackling Goose was once considered a subspecies of the very similar Canada Goose, but more recent research using genetics have revealed it to be it's own species. Besides a much smaller size, it's characterized by a more shorter and triangular beak, slightly different patterning, and a shorter neck usually held closer to it's body.

The Island-Scrub Jay is found only on a small island chain off the coast of California, and the Yellow-billed magpie has only ever been found in central California; never overlapping with it's black billed cousin.

Rather famously, two birds are only found in California. Which of these are they?

Though never really referred to by this nickname, a closely related and also likely extinct species of woodpecker that existed further south in Mexico was named the Imperial Woodpecker.

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker was (is..?) a popular bird of many nicknames. Which of these ISN'T a commonly used nickname.

The House Finch was originally only native to the Western United States, before being introduced to the east through the illegal pet trade. Though now invasive in the east, they are also effective at outcompeting and controlling the population of the similarly invasive House Sparrow.

Within the United States, which of these birds is simultaneously a native & invasive species?

Found along the entirety of the North Atlantic Ocean, very rarely seen away from the coastline, the Great Black-backed Gull is the largest species of seagull on earth, with an average wingspan of 4.9 to 5.6 ft (64 to 79 cm), and an average weight of 1 to 5 lbs (0.75 to 2.3 kg).  And yes, if your wondering, there is also a Lesser Black-backed Gull, which shares its range the former, but is also found in much of the old world as well.

There are several species of what are colloquially called 'Large, White-headed' seagulls in the US, but one species is the largest seagull on earth. Which is it?

A group of owls can be referred to as either a "parliament", or a "congress". Besides the obvious "flock", it could also be called "stare" or a "hoot".

(Two correct answers: Select both of them)

A group of Owls is called a what?

Tundra Swans have a solid black beak with a patch of yellow near the base of it. A different variety of the species found in Europe, known as "Bewick's", has a much more prominent yellow patch.

Nesting only in a small area around the western side of the Great Lakes region, and only wintering in a very small area of the Caribbean, Kirtland's warbler is easily one of the rarest of it's tribe.

Of this list of Warbler Species, which one is the rarest in the United States?

The Ana's Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Warbling Vireo, and Belted Kingfisher all regularly occur in Alaska. The Red-winged and Rusty Blackbirds are the only Blackbirds that occur here; no Orioles.

Which of these bird groups ISN'T found in Alaska?

Only American Black Ducks are such a dark shade of brown, and possess such a dark shade of blue on their wing patch.

Boat-Tailed Grackles on the Western Gulf coats have brown eyes, with those along the Atlantic having Yellow. Most Eastern Towhees have dark red eyes, but a white-eyed 'race' occurs in the South Eastern part of it's range. Green Jays in the United States have almost purely black eyes, but a variant sometimes called the "Inca Jay" further south has striking yellow eyes.

Though rare, sometimes eye color can vary within a species of bird, often via different 'morphs' or 'races'. Which bird species does NOT have varying eye color?

Phalaropes are a somewhat well known group of shore birds, due to their reversal of typical bird sexual dimorphism; more colorful females than males. This is primarily because the process of attracting and selecting mates is more or less reversed in Phalaropes, with females fighting for mates, trying to mate with as many males as possible, and deserting the nest after laying their eggs, while the males act as nest builders and chick care takers. This makes phalaropes one of only a few groups of birds where this dynamic is flipped. You may be aware already that rather famously most Ratites, such as Ostriches and Emus, also have this flipped dynamic (except with males still being the same or more eye catching than females).

In most shore birds, both sexes wear the same breeding plumage. However, some have a unique exception, where females are colorful. Of the species bellow, which is identifiable as a breeding female.

Sord is a name for a group of Mallard Ducks when on the ground. The origins of the word are unclear, but it is likely derived from either the Middle English word 'Sorde', which itself is derived from the Old French word 'Sordre', which ITSELF is derived from the Latin word 'Surgere', each of which roughly means to ascend or rise.

Sometimes, a group of birds can be called something different based on behavior or placement. While in flight, it's called a 'Flock", on the ground, what could you call a group of Mallard Ducks?

North America has no native flightless bird species, and even of all the invasive species in the United States, none of them are flightless either. All four species above are well and able to fly.

(Select all that Apply)

Which of these birds invasive to North America is Flightless?

In 1982, only a tiny population of 22 California Condors were still alive. All 22 were taken into captivity that same year, to try and save the species from extinction. Rereleases initially began in 1992, but were at first unsuccessful, so all condors were recaptured, and successful reintroductions into the wild began in 1995.  As of December 1st of 2022, the wild population of California Condors is exactly 561. The species is still listed as Critically Endangered.

In 1982, all California Condors were rounded up to be breed in captivity, to eventually release more condors back into the wild . At the time ,when this first began, how many Condors were there left?

Despite what some laymen may think, Cuckoos are a group of birds, not just a single species. The Cuckoo Bird you first likely think of is actually the Common Cuckoo found in the Old World (Europe, Asia, Africa, etc.), but 6 different types of cuckoos can be found within the united states. These American species are the... - Yellow-billed Cuckoo - Mangrove Cuckoo - Black-billed Cuckoo - Greater Roadrunner - Groove-billed Ani - Smooth-billed Ani    As a side note, while old world cuckoos are famous for their namesake calls and their nest parasitism (laying their own eggs in another birds nest), all New World cuckoos make different calls, and raise their own young.

How many types of Cuckoos regularly occur in the continental United States?

Though not extremely adapt pack hunters, Harris's Hawks do in fact hunt in small family groups; often flushing prey out from cover to be taken out by another member of their flock.

One species of Hawk is famous for its social behavior of hunting in groups. Which of these species is it?

Both Northern & Loggerhead Shrikes regularly occur in South Dakota, but the giveaway here is the date. While you will likely find a Northern Shrike in South Dakota during the cold winter months, the warmer climate Loggerhead Shrike visits the state all summer long.  If your curious, pretty much all shrikes, small sparrow like birds, do this impaling of prey on thorns or barbed wire. It acts as a pantry to store food, and dries it out in hot weather to preserve longer. Said drying can enemy remove poison from certain animals, making them safe for the shrikes to eat. The types of animals you'll see on a Shrikes cache varies from region to region, but usually includes bugs, as well as small mammals, birds, and reptiles.

You're on a relaxing walk down a rural South Dakota roadside on a cool, July morning, when you see a dead lizard hooked onto a barbed wire fence. What bird is the culprit behind this?

It's a very close call here, but based on research online from ornithologists, the Blue-throated Mountain-gem wins out over the Rivoli's Hummingbird by weighing 8.4g compared to the Rivoli's 7.7g. A Blue-throated Mountain-gem weighs 3 times as much as a Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

We've talked a fair bit about humming birds so far, but here's a question you may not have even considered; What is the largest species of humming bird that occurs in the united states?

This one is a toughie. All 3 Meadowlark species are extremely similar, but with the right knowledge, you can ID them without needing to hear the birds voice. The Chihuahuan Meadowlark is distinct from it's almost identical relatives in it's tail feathers. The white feathers on it's tail are much paler and less vibrant than that of the Eastern, and they take up a larger part of the tail then in the Westerns, with 4 white feathers, instead of the 3 or less in Western.  As a side nugget of info, this is an extremely new species, that was long considered just another morph or race of the Eastern Meadowlark.

(This one is VERY tough, so have some extra time and pick your answer wisely)

This is a pretty tough one, but in summary, the main four reasons for why many waterfowl stay north during the winter are that...  1. It saves energy  2. Sources of unfrozen open water are common enough many don't need to fly south to find other wetland habitats  3. Climate change has decreased the severity of winter weather in many places  4. Many waterfowl that overwinter in the US come from summers spent even farther north like Canada, so they're more adapted for cold weather  Many waterfowl do migrate south to Latin America and the Caribbean as well, but just as many stay north of the American South.

Flying further south spends energy that can otherwise be used to survive

The major "Flyways" birds migrate across are too packed with other birds

Many water sources stay unfrozen during the winter, providing safety 

Climate change has made winter in some places milder, and more survivable

Winter weather hinders waterfowls ability to navigate south

Many of these species come from further north, and so are used to the cold

(Select the 4 reasons that apply)

Many even casual birders are familiar with the fact that, despite common misconceptions, MANY waterfowl in North America spend winter all across the United States. But why is that?

This is a tough one likely even for those familiar with bird terminology. All of the terms listed as possible answers are real terms for parts of a bird, but Malar Stripe is the correct answer. Malar is actually the name for a cheek bone, and any stripe that runs down along where cheekbones usually are is therefore referred to as a malar stripe. A throat patch would be a patch of color bellow the beak, a subaricular stripe would be just bellow the eye, and a mustache is a line directly along or just above the mouth.

It's useful to remember the names for parts of a birds patterning. The Sparrow pictured bellow is covered in many patterns on it's face. But what is the name for the dark stripe highlighted in yellow?

The scientific name of the American Robin is Turdus migratorius. Like all scientific names, it is written primarily in Latin words... - The first half of the name, "Turdus", is the Genus name, Latin word 'Thrush', since the American Robin is in fact a type of thrush. - The second half of the name, "migratorius", is the Species name, and is simply the Latin word for, you guessed it, migrating    As a side note, the other scientific names bellow, in order from top to bottom, belong to the following species... - The Passenger Pigeon - The Roseate Spoonbill - The American Goldfinch

While many people know birds common names, very few remember their important scientific names, often still helpful to birders.  With that in mind, what is the scientific name for the American Robin?

The Carolina Parakeet was the most recently declared extinct bird on the list, declared extinct in 1939. The order of extinctions is as follows bellow... - Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Still classified as Critically Endangered) - Carolina Parakeet (1939) - Heath Hen (1932) - Passenger Pigeon (1919) - Labrador Duck (1870's) - Great Auk (1844)

Tragically, many birds have gone extinct in the recent history of the united states. Of the species listed bellow, which was declared extinct the most recently?

Oahu & Kuai, two of the most north west of the Hawaiian Islands, host some number of nesting sites used seasonally by both Black-footed & Laysan Albatrosses.

Two species of Albatross nest on the tail end of the Hawaiian Islands chain. Which species are they?

Cooper's Hawks have a larger head proportionally than Sharp-shinned Hawk, & their tail tips are rounded, as compared to the Sharp-shinned's square tail tip.

Cooper's Hawk & Sharp-shined Hawk is a classically difficult ID to make. How many of these bellow are actual differences between the two?

It may seem very difficult, and it is, but you can identify some Empidonax Flycatchers with only looks. The Buff-breasted Flycactcher is the only Empidonax that has this 'buff' color on it's chest.

Trick Question! You can't identify any Empidonax Flyctchers based on looks!

You should have known I couldn't end the hardest section without something Empidonax Flycatcher related.  So, which species of bird is this?

50 trivia questions and answers all about Birds in the United States. Test your Birding knowledge with this quiz.