Birds worth looking twice at.
Beaks, feathers, and a few unexpected specialties.
Ten questions, with the answers explained. Try them in your head, then open each answer when you're ready.
Play this quiz →QUESTION 1 / 10
Which bird is known for hovering while it feeds at flowers?
- Emu
- Ostrich
- Penguin
- Hummingbird
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Hummingbird
Hummingbirds can hover, letting them drink nectar without landing.
QUESTION 2 / 10
Which living bird is the largest by height and mass?
- Wandering albatross
- Ostrich
- Bald eagle
- Emperor penguin
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Ostrich
The ostrich is the largest living bird. It runs rather than flies.
QUESTION 3 / 10
Which of these birds cannot fly?
- Sparrow
- Falcon
- Swallow
- Emu
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Emu
Emus are large, flightless birds native to Australia.
QUESTION 4 / 10
What body covering is unique to birds among living animals?
- Feathers
- Scales
- Skin
- Fur
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Feathers
Feathers are a defining feature of birds, though some extinct dinosaurs had them too.
QUESTION 5 / 10
Which bird is famous for mimicking human speech?
- Peacock
- Pelican
- Parrot
- Puffin
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Parrot
Several parrots can imitate human speech and other sounds they hear.
QUESTION 6 / 10
Which bird dives and swims using wings shaped like flippers?
- Penguin
- Owl
- Swan
- Robin
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Penguin
Penguins are flightless seabirds whose wings propel them underwater.
QUESTION 7 / 10
Which bird has a large expandable pouch under its bill?
- Pelican
- Finch
- Woodpecker
- Kingfisher
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Pelican
A pelican's pouch helps it catch fish and drain water.
QUESTION 8 / 10
Which bird is associated with drilling into wood with its beak?
- Woodpecker
- Flamingo
- Gull
- Dove
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Woodpecker
Woodpeckers peck into wood to find food, make nest cavities, and communicate.
QUESTION 9 / 10
What is a young swan called?
- A duckling
- A gosling
- A poult
- A cygnet
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A cygnet
A young swan is a cygnet. A gosling is a young goose.
QUESTION 10 / 10
Which bird is named for the fan of long feathers displayed by the male?
- Peacock
- Wren
- Osprey
- Magpie
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Peacock
A peacock is a male peafowl. Its display includes long upper tail coverts called a train.