Advanced Quiz #1
Advanced identification
This is an advanced quiz designed for more experienced birders. The birds included here can be easily confused with other species, or are species that are not encountered often. If you do not score well in this quiz, don't be discouraged, but instead try the quizzes at an easier level and work your way up. If this quiz is too easy, new 'No clues' quizzes will be coming soon.
Start
Question 1 |
A | Willet Hint: Yes. This is an eastern Willet in breeding plumage. The gray legs and long straight bill are indicative of Willet. |
B | Dunlin Hint: The bill is far too long for Dunlin. |
C | Whimbrel Hint: Whimbrel has a longer downcurved bill |
D | American Golden-Plover Hint: The bill is WAY too long for a plover. |
E | Marbled Godwit Hint: Marbled Godwit has a buffier color and longer upturned bill. |
Question 2 |
A | Peregrine Falcon Hint: Peregrine Falcon has a dark gray back, not the bright rufous of this bird. |
B | American Kestrel Hint: Yes. A female American Kestrel, based on the barred tail and the lack of bluish wings seen in males. |
C | Prairie Falcon Hint: Prairie Falcon lacks the bright rufous back of this bird. |
D | Aplomado Falcon Hint: Aplomado Falcon has a dark gray back, not the bright rufous of this bird. |
E | Merlin Hint: Merlin has a dull brown or dark gray back, not the bright rufous of this bird. |
Question 3 |
A | Sandhill Crane Hint: No Sandhill Cranes are nearly uniform gray as adults. |
B | American Bittern Hint: American Bittern is mostly brown with a shorter neck. |
C | Little Blue Heron Hint: Little Blue Heron has a uniform blue color as adults. |
D | Great Blue Heron Hint: Great Blue Heron does not have the white belly of this bird. |
E | Tri-colored Heron Hint: Yes. The white belly and front of the neck is diagnostic for a Tri-colored Heron. |
Question 4 |
A | Red-cockaded Woodpecker Hint: Red Cockaded Woodpecker has a sizeable white cheek patch that is not seen on this bird. |
B | American Three-toed Woodpecker Hint: Very good. The unmarked black wings, barred back and yellow crown indicate a male American Three-toed Woodpecker. |
C | Black-backed Woodpecker Hint: This bird doesn't have a black back. |
D | Ladder-backed Woodpecker Hint: Ladder-backed Woodpecker has extensively barred back and wings. |
E | Downy Woodpecker Hint: Downy has white spots on the wings and a white back. |
Question 5 |
A | Long-billed Curlew Hint: Although our bird has a long bill, a Long-billed Curlew actually has a longer bill (!!) that is downcurved, not upturned. |
B | Hudsonian Godwit Hint: Hudsonian Godwit has a black tail and different overall color pattern that changes depending on the time of year. |
C | Willet Hint: Willet is a fairly non-descript gray bird,with a bill that is long, but shorter and straighter than our quiz subject. |
D | Whimbrel Hint: Whimbrel has a strongly downcurved bill |
E | Marbled Godwit Hint: Yes. The long and slightly upturned bill indicates Godwit, and the banded tail and mottled buffy color points to Marbled Godwit. |
Question 6 |
A | Northwestern Crow Hint: A crow would be all-black |
B | American Raven Hint: A raven would be all-black |
C | Pied Cowbird Hint: There is no such bird as a Pied Cowbird. |
D | Clark's Nutcracker Hint: Try again. Clark's Nutcracker is mostly gray. |
E | Black-billed Magpie Hint: Yes. Unmistakable black and white pattern with long tail and large bill. |
Question 7 |
A | Townsend's Solitaire Hint: Very good. A plain gray bird with an obvious eye-ring and buffy wing patches is a Townsend's Solitaire. |
B | Northern Mockingbird Hint: Northern Mockingbird has white wing patches and lack the white eye-ring of this bird. |
C | Clark's Nutcracker Hint: Clark's Nutcracker has black wings and a much longer bill. |
D | Gray Catbird Hint: Gray Catbird is more uniform dark gray and does not have the eye ring or the wing patches of this bird. |
E | Northern Shrike Hint: Northern Shrike has a back face mask. |
Question 8 |
A | Boreal Nuthatch Hint: There is no such bird. Try again. |
B | Brown Creeper Hint: Brown creeper is overall a mottled brown bird with a downcurved bill. |
C | White-breasted Nuthatch Hint: White-breasted Nuthatch has a black crown and steely gray back and wings. |
D | Pygmy Nuthatch Hint: Very close. |
E | Brown-headed Nuthatch Hint: Yes. The bright brown head and white patch on back of the nape are indicative. |
Question 9 |
A | Pelagic Cormorant Hint: Cormorants have hooked tips to their bills. |
B | Green Heron Hint: Try again. |
C | Anhingha Hint: Yes. The long neck and needle-like bill are unmistakeable. |
D | Double-crested Cormorant Hint: Cormorants have hooked tips to their bills. |
E | Neotropic Cormorant Hint: Cormorants have hooked tips to their bills. |
Question 10 |
A | American Pipit Hint: Pipits have much pointier bills. |
B | Rufous-capped Sparrow Hint: There is no such bird as a Rufous-capped sparrow. On the advanced quizzes the possible answers occasionally will be tricky. |
C | Chipping Sparrow Hint: Well done. The rufous crown and black eye stripe are indicative. |
D | Song Sparrow Hint: Among other differences, a Song Sparrow would have stripes on its chest. |
E | American Tree Sparrow Hint: American Tree Sparrow has a rusty cap, but has a bi-colored bill, mostly gray face, and a rufous eye-line. |
Question 11 |
A | Mountain Chickadee Hint: Very good. The white supercillium distinguishes it from other chickadees. |
B | Mexican Chickadee Hint: Mexican Chickadee does not have the white supercillium and has dark gray flanks. |
C | Boreal Chickadee Hint: Boreal Chickadee has a dark brown cap and lighter brown flanks. |
D | Black-throated Gray Warbler Hint: Black-throated Gray Warbler has lateral black stripes on its flanks and a yellow spot in front of its eyes. |
E | Black-capped Chickadee Hint: Black-capped Chickadee does not have the white supercillium. |
Question 12 |
A | Cerulean Warbler Hint: The bill is too long for a warbler. |
B | Red-breasted Nuthatch Hint: Yes. The bold white supercilium, black eye-line, rusty breast, short tail, and distinctive nuthatch bill all point to Red-breasted Nuthatch. |
C | Eastern Bluebird Hint: Bluebird has a bluer back, white belly, and a differently shaped bill. |
D | Cinereous Conebill Hint: Conebills have never been seen in the US. |
E | Black-throated Blue Warbler Hint: The bill is too long for a warbler. |
Question 13 |
A | Purple Gallinule Hint: Purple Gallinule would have a more brilliant purple color on the belly and neck. |
B | Common Gallinule Hint: Yes. Until recently called Common Moorhen. The white line on its flank is one clue that separates it from Purple Gallinule in this view.. |
C | Sora Hint: Sora is not uniform gray like this bird, and has a yellow bill with a black face mask. |
D | Black Rail Hint: compared to this bird, with a small dark bill. |
E | American Coot Hint: Coot has a white bill, not mostly red. |
Question 14 |
A | Veery Hint: Veery has a rufous back and wings, not just the rufous tail, and lacks the clear eye-ring of this bird. |
B | Ovenbird Hint: The bill is too long for ovenbird. |
C | Gray-cheeked Thrush Hint: Gray-cheeked Thrush has a buffy throat and lacks the distinctive rufous tail of this bird. |
D | Swainson's Thrush Hint: Swainson's Thrush has buffy throat and spectacles. |
E | Hermit Thrush Hint: Yes. The bill is correct for a thrush, and the rufous tail is indicative of Hermit Thrush. |
Question 15 |
A | Wilson's Warbler Hint: Wilson's Warbler is mostly yellow, but just having a black cap. |
B | Kentucky Warbler Hint: Kentucky Warbler does not have a black hood. |
C | Common Yellowthroat Hint: Common Yellowthroat has a black face mask and less yellow on the body. |
D | Canada Warbler Hint: The upper body of the Canada Warbler is gray. |
E | Hooded Warbler Hint: Yes. A moslty yellow warbler with a black hood and masks surrounding a yellow face patch is a Hooded Warbler. |
Question 16 |
A | Crimson-throated Tanager Hint: Sorry, but there is no such bird. |
B | Rainbow Tanager Hint: There is no such bird. |
C | Pyrrhuloxia Hint: Bad guess. Pyrrhuloxia is cardinal-like without this range of colors. |
D | Blue-headed Tanager Hint: Blue-headed tanager would never be seen in the US. It has a lighter blue head and no red in its plumage. |
E | Painted Bunting Hint: Yes. An unmistakable male. |
Question 17 |
A | Lazuli Bunting Hint: Lazuli Bunting has a white belly and orange breast. |
B | Eastern Bluebird Hint: Bluebird has a white belly and extensive orange breast. |
C | Mountain Bluebird Hint: Mountain Bluebird has unmarked wings, lacks the black face mask, and has a much smaller bill than this bird. |
D | Indigo Bunting Hint: Indigo Bunting does not have wing bars and has a smaller bill. |
E | Blue Grosbeak Hint: Yes. the rusty wing bar, overall blue color and thick bill are indicative of Blue Grosbeak. |
Question 18 |
A | Swamp Sparrow Hint: Swamp Sparrow has a darker gray breast with weak streaks and a mostly dark gray face. |
B | House Sparrow Hint: Male House Sparrow has a black throat and lacks the rusty cap seen here.. |
C | Field Sparrow Hint: Yes. The pink bill, rusty crown and mostly gray face is diagnostic for Field Sparrow. |
D | Clay-colored Sparrow Hint: Clay-colored Sparrow is overall buffier, with a strong lateral white throat patch and eye line that highlight its ear patch. |
E | American Tree Sparrow Hint: American Tree Sparrow has a rusty crown and a rufous eye stripe, but has a clearly bi-colored bill. |
Question 19 |
A | Blue-winged Warbler Hint: Yes. The bluish wings with two prominent wing bars, combined with extensive yellow on the face and belly, points to Blue-winged Warbler. |
B | Yellow-headed Blackbird Hint: Try again. |
C | Yellow-green Vireo Hint: No. Yellow-green Vireo does not have wing bars. |
D | Golden-cheeked Warbler Hint: Golden-cheeked Warbler has a limited range in Texas, has a black throat, cap, and back. |
E | Orchard Oriole Hint: The tail of the female Orchard Oriole is yellow. Orchard Oriole is significantly larger than the bird shown here. |
Question 20 |
A | Blue Grosbeak Hint: Blue Grosbeak is darker blue, has a larger bill, and rufous wing bars. |
B | Indigo Bunting Hint: Yes. This bright blue male is typically found around brushy areas or edges of fields. |
C | Field Sparrow Hint: Although our bird looks sparrow-like, a Field Sparrow is mostly brown. |
D | Eastern Bluebird Hint: Eastern Bluebird has an orange throat and chest. |
E | Lazuli Bunting Hint: Although its mostly blue, a Lazuli Bunting has an orange chest, white belly, and white wing bars. |
There are 20 questions to complete.
← |
→ |
You have completed
questions
question
Your score is
Correct
Wrong
Partial-Credit
You have not finished your quiz. If you leave this page, your progress will be lost.
Correct Answer
You Selected
Not Attempted
Final Score on Quiz
Attempted Questions Correct
Attempted Questions Wrong
Questions Not Attempted
Total Questions on Quiz
Question Details
Results
Date
Score
Hint
Time allowed
minutes
seconds
Time used
Answer Choice(s) Selected
Question Text
All done
Need more practice!
Keep trying!
Not bad!
Good work!
Perfect!