Our Bird Comrades Trivia Quiz Questions and Answers

Which bird species’ song is often mistaken for the buzzing of an insect?

• The clay-colored sparrow
• The Bell vireo
• The Harris sparrow
• The Tennessee warbler

Correct Answer: The clay-colored sparrow

Correct Answer Explanation: The clay-colored sparrow’s song is described as a low, croaking trill, which can easily be mistaken for the sound of an insect. This is a fun fact to know and it gives you a good way to remember this bird.

What is the name of the parasitic bird that often lays its eggs in the nests of other species?

• The chickadee
• The cowbird
• The blue jay
• The scissor-tailed flycatcher

Correct Answer: The cowbird

Correct Answer Explanation: Cowbirds are known for their parasitic behavior, laying their eggs in the nests of other birds and relying on those birds to raise their young. This is a surprising and interesting fact about birds, and it makes you think about the complex relationships that exist in nature.

Which bird species is known for its unique habit of climbing down tree trunks head first?

• The chickadee
• The nuthatch
• The redstart
• The ovenbird

Correct Answer: The nuthatch

Correct Answer Explanation: The nuthatch has a unique ability to climb down tree trunks headfirst, which is different from most other birds. This makes them a fascinating bird to watch and learn about.

What type of bird uses a field glass to observe birds?

• A bird watcher
• An ornithologist
• A hunter
• A naturalist

Correct Answer: A bird watcher

Correct Answer Explanation: A bird watcher is someone who enjoys observing birds in their natural habitat. The book “Our Bird Comrades” encourages readers to become bird watchers and use a field glass to observe and identify birds, promoting a respectful approach to nature.

Which bird species is known to have a forked tail that can be up to 9-10 inches long?

• The chickadee
• The blue jay
• The scissor-tailed flycatcher
• The brown-capped rosy finch

Correct Answer: The scissor-tailed flycatcher

Correct Answer Explanation: The scissor-tailed flycatcher is named for its long, forked tail, which is a striking feature of this bird. This bird is a beautiful example of how birds can be adapted to their environments and have unique features that make them interesting to observe.

Which bird species has a song that sounds like a voice moving toward you?

• The ovenbird
• The Nashville warbler
• The Tennessee warbler
• The hooded warbler

Correct Answer: The ovenbird

Correct Answer Explanation: The ovenbird has a unique song that rises in pitch, giving the impression that the bird is moving towards you. This is a fun fact to know and it makes you appreciate the beauty of bird song.

Which bird species is known for its acrobatic skills and ability to cling to tree branches in a variety of positions?

• The chickadee
• The nuthatch
• The redstart
• The ovenbird

Correct Answer: The nuthatch

Correct Answer Explanation: The nuthatch is a small, active bird that is often seen clinging to tree trunks and branches in an upside-down position. This bird is an example of how birds can adapt to their environments and develop unique behaviors that help them survive.

Which bird species is a common sight in the Colorado Rockies during the breeding season?

• The chickadee
• The blue jay
• The scissor-tailed flycatcher
• The brown-capped rosy finch

Correct Answer: The brown-capped rosy finch

Correct Answer Explanation: The brown-capped rosy finch is a bird that is found in high-altitude habitats in the Rocky Mountains. This bird is an example of how birds can adapt to extreme environments and survive in challenging conditions.

What is the name of the study of birds?

• Zoology
• Ornithology
• Entomology
• Botany

Correct Answer: Ornithology

Correct Answer Explanation: Ornithology is the branch of zoology that studies birds. This is a helpful term to know if you’re interested in learning more about birds and their behavior.

Which bird species is known for its sweet, minor strain song that sounds like “Phe-e-be-e”?

• The chickadee
• The nuthatch
• The redstart
• The ovenbird

Correct Answer: The chickadee

Correct Answer Explanation: The chickadee is a small, energetic bird that is known for its cheerful song. This is a fun fact to know and it makes you think about the different ways that birds communicate with each other.

How many insects can a chickadee destroy in a single day?

• 10-20
• 25-40
• 55
• 100+

Correct Answer: 55

Correct Answer Explanation: Chickadees are important insect predators, and they play an important role in controlling insect populations. This is a surprising and interesting fact about birds and their role in the ecosystem.

Which bird species is known for its secretive nesting habits?

• The Kentucky warbler
• The hooded warbler
• The redstart
• The ovenbird

Correct Answer: The Kentucky warbler

Correct Answer Explanation: Kentucky warblers are secretive about their nesting habits, often diverting attention away from the nest site to protect their young. This is a fascinating example of how birds can be clever and resourceful in their parenting practices.

What is the name of the process of a bird keeping an egg warm to develop the embryo?

• Hatching
• Nesting
• Incubation
• Migration

Correct Answer: Incubation

Correct Answer Explanation: Incubation is the process by which a bird keeps an egg warm to allow the embryo inside to develop. This is a crucial part of the bird’s life cycle, and it ensures that the chicks have a chance to survive.

What is the name of the book that inspired these trivia questions?

• Birds of America
• The Birds
• Our Bird Comrades
• A Field Guide to Birds

Correct Answer: Our Bird Comrades

Correct Answer Explanation: “Our Bird Comrades” is a book written by Leander S. Keyser in 1907. It provides valuable insights into bird identification, behavior, anatomy, and ecology. This is a great book to read if you are interested in learning more about birds and their place in the natural world.

What is the name of the taxonomical rank below family and above species that groups closely related species?

• Class
• Order
• Genus
• Phylum

Correct Answer: Genus

Correct Answer Explanation: The genus is a taxonomical rank that groups closely related species. This is a helpful term to know if you are interested in learning more about bird classification and how scientists organize the natural world.

Which bird species is known for its distinctive black spots on the breast and a slender black necklace?

• The clay-colored sparrow
• The Bell vireo
• The Harris sparrow
• The Tennessee warbler

Correct Answer: The Harris sparrow

Correct Answer Explanation: The Harris sparrow is distinguished by its black spots on the breast and a slender black necklace. This is a fun fact to know and it gives you a good way to remember this bird.

What is the name of the seasonal movement of animals from one region to another, often for breeding or food?

• Nesting
• Migration
• Incubation
• Polyandry

Correct Answer: Migration

Correct Answer Explanation: Migration is the seasonal movement of animals from one region to another, often for breeding or food. This is an important part of the bird’s life cycle and it allows them to take advantage of different resources throughout the year.

What is the name of the bird species that has a song that sounds like a rolling ditty with a rising inflection?

• The clay-colored sparrow
• The Bell vireo
• The Harris sparrow
• The Tennessee warbler

Correct Answer: The Bell vireo

Correct Answer Explanation: The Bell vireo has a distinctive song that sounds like a rolling ditty with a rising inflection. This is a fun fact to know and it gives you a good way to remember this bird.

Which bird species is known for its habit of spreading out its wings and tail to display its fiery trimmings?

• The chickadee
• The nuthatch
• The redstart
• The ovenbird

Correct Answer: The redstart

Correct Answer Explanation: The redstart is a small, colorful bird that is known for its habit of spreading out its wings and tail to display its bright red and black markings. This is a fascinating example of how birds use visual displays to communicate with each other.

What type of bird structure is used for perching and climbing?

• Wings
• Feathers
• Feet
• Beak

Correct Answer: Feet

Correct Answer Explanation: Bird feet are specialized structures that are used for perching, climbing, and walking. This is an important part of the bird’s anatomy and it allows them to adapt to different environments and behaviors.

Which bird species is known for its loud, harsh calls that are often used to defend its territory?

• The chickadee
• The nuthatch
• The blue jay
• The scissor-tailed flycatcher

Correct Answer: The blue jay

Correct Answer Explanation: The blue jay is a noisy bird that is known for its loud, harsh calls. This bird is a common sight in many parts of North America and it is a fascinating example of how birds use vocalizations to communicate with each other.

Which bird species is known for its habit of clinging back downward to twigs to secure insects?

• The Kentucky warbler
• The hooded warbler
• The blue-winged warbler
• The ovenbird

Correct Answer: The blue-winged warbler

Correct Answer Explanation: The blue-winged warbler is a small, active bird that is often seen clinging to twigs in a variety of positions to catch insects. This is a fascinating example of how birds can adapt to their environments and develop unique behaviors that help them survive.

What type of bird behavior involves building a nest and laying eggs?

• Migration
• Polyandry
• Nesting
• Incubation

Correct Answer: Nesting

Correct Answer Explanation: Nesting is the process by which a bird builds a nest and lays eggs. This is a crucial part of the bird’s life cycle and it ensures that the chicks have a safe and protected place to grow.

Which bird species has a distinctive song that sounds like a “chippy, chippy, chippy, chippity-chippity-chippity”?

• The Nashville warbler
• The Tennessee warbler
• The Kentucky warbler
• The hooded warbler

Correct Answer: The Tennessee warbler

Correct Answer Explanation: The Tennessee warbler has a distinctive song that sounds like a “chippy, chippy, chippy, chippity-chippity-chippity.” This is a fun fact to know and it gives you a good way to remember this bird.

Which bird species is known for its territorial behavior and its habit of using its long, forked tail to attract mates?

• The chickadee
• The blue jay
• The scissor-tailed flycatcher
• The brown-capped rosy finch

Correct Answer: The scissor-tailed flycatcher

Correct Answer Explanation: The scissor-tailed flycatcher is known for its territorial behavior and its habit of using its long, forked tail to attract mates. This is a fascinating example of how birds can use visual displays to communicate with each other and attract potential partners.

What type of relationship exists between two organisms where one benefits at the expense of the other?

• Mutualism
• Commensalism
• Parasitism
• Predation

Correct Answer: Parasitism

Correct Answer Explanation: Parasitism is a relationship between two organisms where one benefits at the expense of the other. This is a common relationship in the natural world and it can have a significant impact on the populations of both species involved.

What is the name of the bird species that is known for its habit of storing ants in crevices of tree trunks?

• The chickadee
• The nuthatch
• The redstart
• The ovenbird

Correct Answer: The nuthatch

Correct Answer Explanation: The nuthatch is known for its habit of storing ants in crevices of tree trunks. This is a fascinating example of how birds can be resourceful and clever in their foraging behaviors.

What is the name of the bird species that is known to parasitize at least 90 different bird species?

• The chickadee
• The cowbird
• The blue jay
• The scissor-tailed flycatcher

Correct Answer: The cowbird

Correct Answer Explanation: The cowbird is known to parasitize at least 90 different bird species, laying its eggs in their nests and relying on those birds to raise their young. This is a surprising and interesting fact about birds and their complex relationships in the natural world.

What is the name of the bird species that is known for its habit of nesting in hollows in dead snags or stumps?

• The chickadee
• The nuthatch
• The redstart
• The ovenbird

Correct Answer: The chickadee

Correct Answer Explanation: The chickadee is known for its habit of nesting in hollows in dead snags or stumps. This is a fascinating example of how birds can adapt to their environments and find safe and secure places to raise their young.

What is the name of the bird species that has a strong, full song that is sometimes mistaken for the song of a cardinal?

• The Kentucky warbler
• The hooded warbler
• The blue-winged warbler
• The ovenbird

Correct Answer: The Kentucky warbler

Correct Answer Explanation: The Kentucky warbler has a strong, full song that is sometimes mistaken for the song of a cardinal. This is a fun fact to know and it gives you a good way to remember this bird.

What type of bird behavior involves a female mating with multiple males?

• Polygyny
• Monogamy
• Polyandry
• Promiscuity

Correct Answer: Polyandry

Correct Answer Explanation: Polyandry is a mating system in which a female mates with multiple males. This is a rare mating system in birds, but it does occur in some species.

Which bird species is known for its habit of singing even during winter?

• The chickadee
• The nuthatch
• The purple finch
• The brown-capped rosy finch

Correct Answer: The purple finch

Correct Answer Explanation: The purple finch is known for its habit of singing even during winter. This is a fascinating example of how birds can maintain their communication and territorial behaviors even in challenging conditions.

What type of bird structure is used for producing sound?

• Wings
• Feathers
• Feet
• Syrinx

Correct Answer: Syrinx

Correct Answer Explanation: The syrinx is a specialized structure in the bird’s throat that is used for producing sound. This is an important part of the bird’s anatomy and it allows them to create a wide variety of vocalizations.

Which bird species is known for its habit of eating snow, likely for hydration?

• The chickadee
• The nuthatch
• The tree sparrow
• The brown-capped rosy finch

Correct Answer: The tree sparrow

Correct Answer Explanation: The tree sparrow is known for its habit of eating snow, likely for hydration. This is a fascinating example of how birds can adapt to their environments and find ways to meet their needs even in challenging conditions.

Which bird species is known for its habit of raising cowbirds, often losing their own offspring to the parasitic cowbird?

• The Kentucky warbler
• The hooded warbler
• The blue-winged warbler
• The ovenbird

Correct Answer: The hooded warbler

Correct Answer Explanation: The hooded warbler is known for its habit of raising cowbirds, often losing their own offspring to the parasitic cowbird. This is a sad but common example of how parasitism can have a negative impact on the survival of other species.

What is the name of the bird species that is known for its habit of building nests at elevations of at least 12,000 feet?

• The chickadee
• The blue jay
• The scissor-tailed flycatcher
• The brown-capped rosy finch

Correct Answer: The brown-capped rosy finch

Correct Answer Explanation: The brown-capped rosy finch is known for its habit of building nests at elevations of at least 12,000 feet. This is a fascinating example of how birds can adapt to extreme environments and find ways to survive in challenging conditions.

Which bird species is known for its relatively small nest size, smaller than those of brown thrashers?

• The chickadee
• The blue jay
• The scissor-tailed flycatcher
• The brown-capped rosy finch

Correct Answer: The scissor-tailed flycatcher

Correct Answer Explanation: The scissor-tailed flycatcher is known for its relatively small nest size, smaller than those of brown thrashers. This is a fun fact to know and it gives you a good way to remember this bird.

What is the name of the bird species that is known to lay eggs in abandoned nests and even in nests where incubation has already begun?

• The chickadee
• The cowbird
• The Argentine cowbird
• The bay-winged cowbird

Correct Answer: The Argentine cowbird

Correct Answer Explanation: The Argentine cowbird is known to lay eggs in abandoned nests and even in nests where incubation has already begun. This is a fascinating example of how birds can be opportunistic and find ways to reproduce even in challenging conditions.

Which bird species is known for its habit of sometimes building its own nest, but also being parasitic?

• The chickadee
• The cowbird
• The Argentine cowbird
• The bay-winged cowbird

Correct Answer: The bay-winged cowbird

Correct Answer Explanation: The bay-winged cowbird is known for its habit of sometimes building its own nest, but also being parasitic. This is a fascinating example of how birds can have both cooperative and competitive behaviors.

What is the name of the bird species that parasitizes its bay-winged cousins, laying its eggs in their nests?

• The chickadee
• The cowbird
• The Argentine cowbird
• The screaming cowbird

Correct Answer: The screaming cowbird

Correct Answer Explanation: The screaming cowbird is known for its habit of parasitizing its bay-winged cousins, laying its eggs in their nests. This is a fascinating example of how parasitism can occur within the same species.

Which bird species is known for its song being less robust in winter than in summer?

• The chickadee
• The nuthatch
• The purple finch
• The brown-capped rosy finch

Correct Answer: The purple finch

Correct Answer Explanation: The purple finch is known for its song being less robust in winter than in summer. This is a fascinating example of how birds can adjust their behavior based on seasonal changes.

What is the name of the bird species that is known for its shyer nature and its tendency to migrate further south than its Kansas counterparts?

• The chickadee
• The nuthatch
• The myrtle warbler
• The brown-capped rosy finch

Correct Answer: The myrtle warbler

Correct Answer Explanation: The myrtle warbler is known for its shyer nature and its tendency to migrate further south than its Kansas counterparts. This is a fascinating example of how bird migration patterns can be influenced by regional differences.

Which bird species is known for its hardiness and its ability to thrive even in the most severe Kansas winters?

• The chickadee
• The nuthatch
• The junco
• The brown-capped rosy finch

Correct Answer: The junco

Correct Answer Explanation: The junco is known for its hardiness and its ability to thrive even in the most severe Kansas winters. This is a fascinating example of how birds can adapt to challenging environments and survive in harsh conditions.

What is the name of the bird species that is known for its migratory behavior in both Ohio and northeastern Kansas, but whose songs are more commonly heard in Kansas?

• The chickadee
• The nuthatch
• The winter wren
• The brown-capped rosy finch

Correct Answer: The winter wren

Correct Answer Explanation: The winter wren is known for its migratory behavior in both Ohio and northeastern Kansas, but whose songs are more commonly heard in Kansas. This is a fascinating example of how bird migration patterns can be influenced by regional differences in habitat and climate.

What is the name of the bird species that is known for its habit of congregating in sheltered hollows during the winter months?

• The chickadee
• The nuthatch
• The winter wren
• The brown-capped rosy finch

Correct Answer: The winter wren

Correct Answer Explanation: The winter wren is known for its habit of congregating in sheltered hollows during the winter months. This is a fascinating example of how birds can use social behavior to survive in challenging conditions.

What is the name of the bird species that is known for its habit of foraging on the ground for insects and seeds?

• The chickadee
• The nuthatch
• The song sparrow
• The brown-capped rosy finch

Correct Answer: The song sparrow

Correct Answer Explanation: The song sparrow is known for its habit of foraging on the ground for insects and seeds. This is a fascinating example of how birds can adapt their foraging behavior based on the availability of food sources.

What is the name of the bird species that is known for its habit of descending to the timber line in winter, with some venturing as far south as northern Mexico?

• The chickadee
• The nuthatch
• The brown-capped rosy finch
• The scissor-tailed flycatcher

Correct Answer: The brown-capped rosy finch

Correct Answer Explanation: The brown-capped rosy finch is known for its habit of descending to the timber line in winter, with some venturing as far south as northern Mexico. This is a fascinating example of how bird migration patterns can vary based on regional differences in habitat and climate.

What is the name of the bird species that is known for its less vocal nature in Kansas compared to its eastern counterparts?

• The chickadee
• The nuthatch
• The song sparrow
• The brown-capped rosy finch

Correct Answer: The song sparrow

Correct Answer Explanation: The song sparrow is known for its less vocal nature in Kansas compared to its eastern counterparts. This is a fascinating example of how bird behavior can be influenced by regional differences in habitat and climate.

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