How Many Common Birds Can You Name?

ANIMALS

By: Lauren Lubas

6 Min Quiz

Image: Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography/Moment/Getty Images

About This Quiz

Bird watching (also known as birding) is a growing hobby for people who start to turn their eyes toward nature. Birding isn't just about seeing birds and taking pictures of them. It's also about tracking migratory patterns, learning where birds prefer to nest and figuring out where they are headed to next. This hobby is peaceful and can get really exciting (especially when you make a list of all of the different birds you want to see over time).

Whether you live in the country and see five to seven different species of bird a day, or you live in the city and see five to seven varieties of pigeons a day, you may find that you can name more common birds than you think. Some of the most common birds have recognizable traits that set them apart from every other bird you've ever seen. If you consider yourself a birding expert, you may find this quiz to be a breeze. However, even if you think of yourself as a novice in the bird watching arena, you still have a chance to pass this quiz. Either way, it's time to try your hand at this bird watching quiz and find out just how many common birds you can name.

This bird is really this blue. What kind of bird is it?

Everyone can spot a blue jay from a mile away. These birds can be confused with bluebirds based on their names, but if you look at the two different birds, you will know that they look nothing alike.

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Can you identify this bird with interesting markings?

The European goldfinch looks like it has fir on its wings. The smooth coloring on its feathers gives it a softer look. The tips of its wings are usually black and yellow, which is how it got its name.

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What is the name of this bird that sparkles?

The common starling is a very interesting looking bird. If you look close enough, you can see that it looks very much like the night sky: black and full of speckles that look like stars.

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Do you know which bird makes a lot of noise?

While there are around 200 species and varieties of woodpecker, most of them are endangered, threatened or (in two cases) extinct. Very few woodpecker species migrate, so if their habitats are disturbed, they don't really know what to do.

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These little guys are found pretty much everywhere in America. What are they?

Sparrows are incredibly common birds. If you go to a Wal-Mart in the American Midwest, you can usually see them flying up in the rafters. They are definitely not on any endangered species lists.

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Can you name the tiny bird that has fast wings?

Hummingbirds are some of the most interesting creatures around. Their wings flap so fast, they sound like bees buzzing by you. This is obviously how they got their names. However, their beaks are the most distinctive part about them, as they are long and very thin.

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Which bird is known across North America?

Mourning doves may look a lot like pigeons, but you may recognize these little guys as the turtle doves that you see around Christmas time. They are also known as rain doves by some.

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What is the name of this very yellow bird?

American goldfinches will migrate from Canada all the way to North Carolina. These little birds are bright yellow and hard to miss. They only weigh about a half of an ounce, but they can fly very fast.

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Do you recognize this bird with wings that are a different color than its breast?

The American robin is considered a songbird that can live up to two years in the wild. These little birds are very territorial and are usually not very social in the summer when they are breeding.

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Can you identify this very red bird?

Cardinals are usually found throughout the United States and Canada. They are the state bird of four states, including Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia, but they can also be found as far south as Mexico.

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These chubby birds weigh less than an ounce. What are they?

There are 88 species of wren spread throughout the world. These tiny birds can be a little bit of a nuisance if they are nesting near you. Depending on the species, they weigh around a quarter of an ounce.

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Farmers like to scare which birds away?

Amazingly, the American crow can live up to eight years in the wild. Additionally, it is a large bird that can weigh nearly 1.5 pounds and grow up to 21 inches in length. Farmers put up scarecrows to make it seem like people are in the fields, so the crows don't eat the seeds.

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What is the name of this black bird?

The common raven is often confused with the American crow. However, the raven's beak is much thicker and the raven itself is much bigger, coming in at nearly five pounds and having a wingspan of nearly five feet.

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Do you know the name of this stout bird?

Don't laugh at its name, the tufted titmouse has a cry that confuses its predators. Its cry fades off as though the bird is flying away, but it isn't. This makes predators think that it has gone in a different direction.

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Can you name this bird with interesting colors?

The common bluebird mainly eats insects, but some species have been known to be omnivorous. Most species are found in North America, but they can also be found in Canada and Nicaragua.

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What kind of hawk is this?

While many think that the red-tailed hawk can only be found in the United States and Canada, they have been known to go as far south as the West Indies and Panama. These birds of prey have wingspans that reach nearly five feet.

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This bird looks like its wearing shoulder pads. Can you name it?

These distinguishable birds might not look like much when they are at rest, but when they are in flight, their red wings show off for the world. They are gorgeous birds that are about medium in size.

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Which bird has a really long neck?

There are 64 species of Herons that are generally found near freshwater. These birds have long necks to help them catch fish, which is what they prefer to eat. Their wingspans can reach nearly 6.5 feet.

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Do you know the name of this small gray bird?

While a Northern mockingbird's wingspan can only reach about ten inches, you can spot it right away, because it has darker wings and a tail that have white tips. This beauty can be found in the south during rougher winters.

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Can you identify this bird that can sometimes be found in Antarctica?

The swallow can fly at up to 40 miles per hour. It does help that the bird only weighs about a half of an ounce. These birds are able to run as well, though they can't run as fast as they fly.

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These birds look like they're wearing helmets. What are they?

The black-capped chickadee is the state bird of Massachusetts. It's a small bird, but it looks pretty aerodynamic with its small thin tail and fascinating markings. The cap on its head helps it avoid predators.

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What is the name of this shiny bird?

As tree-dwelling birds found in North America, the common grackle is known to be found in large numbers (and definitely not on an endangered species list). They are smaller birds, only reaching about a foot in length.

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Do you know the name of this small bird with long tail feathers?

The dark-eyed junco is a bird that is very close to the sparrow. It measures about 6.5 inches in length, but only weighs just over a half of an ounce. They can be found in North America, and as far north as the Arctic.

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These guys can be found all over the world. Do you know what kind of bird it is?

There are different species of thrush, including the American robin. These songbirds have distinct voices that carry. They are usually found on forest floors, sifting through brush and undergrowth.

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The name of this bird is very interesting ... just like its color. What is it?

While the brown-headed cowbird's name is quite the mouthful, these birds are actually very common in the subtropical areas of North America. They can also be found in the southern United States and Mexico.

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Which bird has really cool markings all over its body?

These spotted birds can be found in the warmer parts of North America, Cuba and the Cayman Islands. They are actually a species of woodpecker, but unlike most woodpeckers, northern flickers migrate.

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What kind of owl is this?

You may know the great horned owl as the tiger owl or hoot owl, but this large owl is one of the most common found in the United States. Great horned owls usually mate when the weather is cold in January and February.

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Can you name this common bird that has the same look as a Cardinal?

These little birds look very much like blue jays and cardinals, but they are a pale gray and tan color, and some even have yellow bellies and tips on their tails. They are often found in North and Central America.

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Do you recognize this bird that thrives in America's cities?

If you live in a large city, you probably think that pigeons are the grossest animals on the planet. However, pigeons are actually incredibly intelligent creatures ... why do you think they live in cities? Where else are people going to throw food on the ground for free?

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This bird looks like a cartoon, but can you identify it?

The pygmy nuthatch is a very small bird. It only weighs just over a quarter of an ounce and is about four inches long. These little birds have pale blue wings and white bellies. Their wings have black tips.

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What is the name of this long-necked bird found around the world?

The great egret can be found pretty much everywhere, including Asia, Africa, and North and South America. They have also been spotted in Southern Europe. They prefer fish, but they don't mind eating frogs and mice as well.

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Can you name this wild looking bird?

An American kestrel is actually a falcon. They are the smallest falcons that are found in North America, weighing in at only about 4 ounces. These birds are not endangered by any means, as they are birds of prey.

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Do you know what kind of woodpecker this is?

The downy woodpecker is the smallest species of woodpecker that can be found in North America. They weigh just less than one ounce, but they are the ones that you will probably see in your feeder in your backyard.

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This wildly large bird is a bird of prey. Can you name it?

Turkey vultures are often found in North America, and if you've ever passed one on the road, you probably felt very unsafe, even if you were in your car. These beasts are frightening to look at, to say the least.

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Which bird is a Thanksgiving treat?

Turkeys have gone down in history as the only animals that the President of the United States has pardoned every year. While it's a fun joke, Turkeys are a great way to feed a lot of people, as they grow quickly and produce a lot of meat.

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This beautiful creature has books written about it. What is it?

You can usually find a swan near a freshwater lake. They feed on fish and are closely related to geese and ducks. A swan can reach over 25 pounds with a wingspan of nearly nine feet (for certain species).

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Do you know what kind of hawk this is?

We all know that hawks are birds of prey, but the method that the Cooper's hawk uses is a little intense. It will catch a bird out of midair and squeeze it over and over again until it dies.

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Can you identify this bird with stripes on its head?

A white-crowned sparrow has a gray face along with a cap on its head that has black and white stripes. This cap looks a little bit like a crown, which is how this bird got its name.

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What is the name of this bird that has a baseball team named after it?

While Baltimore orioles eat nectar and fruits in the fall, they feed mostly on insects in the summertime. These vibrant birds are very small, but can be spotted from a mile away because of their color.

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Which duck has a green head?

Mallards are a very common species of duck found throughout North and South America as well as Eurasia and North Africa. These ducks prefer freshwater lakes and usually feed on small fish.

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