bird ID quiz

Mystery Bird: Two-banded Courser, Rhinoptilus africanus

Posted 12 September 2010 by GrrlScientist

SUMMARY: Today’s Mystery Bird is probably fairly challenging to identify, but you should be able to easily identify the family that this African species is placed into. tags: Two-banded Courser, Double-banded Courser, Rhinoptilus africanus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz [Mystery bird] Two-banded Courser, also known as the Double-banded Courser, Rhinoptilus africanus, photographed at Ndutu camp, near Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, Africa. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours] Image: Dan Logen, 21 January 2010 [larger view].... Read more

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Mystery Bird: Square-tailed Drongo, Dicrurus ludwigii

Posted 11 September 2010 by GrrlScientist

SUMMARY: This African Mystery Bird is a small passerine that is endemic to the Old World Tropics. Can you name the species? tags: Square-tailed Drongo, Dicrurus ludwigii, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz [Mystery bird] Square-tailed Drongo, Dicrurus ludwigii, photographed at East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania, Africa. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours] Image: Dan Logen, 13 January 2010 [larger view]. Nikon D300, 600 mm lens, ISO 1000, f/4, 1/125 sec. Please name at least one field... Read more

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Mystery Bird: Barred Owl, Strix varia

Posted 10 September 2010 by GrrlScientist

SUMMARY: This large Mystery Bird bird is triggering a lot of important controversy in one region of North America. Can you tell me more about this controversy and what we can learn from this discussion? tags: Barred Owl, Black-eyed Owl, Wood Owl, Swamp Owl, Laughing Owl, Strix varia, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz [Mystery bird] Barred Owl, also known as the Black-eyed Owl, Wood Owl, Swamp Owl and Laughing Owl, Strix varia, photographed in the spectacular Newton Hills State... Read more

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Mystery Bird: Boreal Chickadee, Parus hudsonicus

Posted 9 September 2010 by GrrlScientist

SUMMARY: This cute little Mystery Bird bird has a patchy distribution within its large range — why? Also, the northern limits for this species’ range coincides with the northern range limits for another organism; can you name that species? tags: Hudsonian Chickadee, Boreal Chickadee, Acadian Chickadee, Brown-capped Chickadee, Tom-tit, Chick Chick, Fillady, Parus hudsonicus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz [Mystery bird] Boreal Chickadee, Parus hudsonicus, also known by a large collection of other common names such as the Hudsonian... Read more

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Mystery Bird: Clapper Rail, Rallus longirostris

Posted 8 September 2010 by GrrlScientist

SUMMARY: There’s no doubt about it, this North American Mystery Bird species is challenging to identify, but I am giving it to you anyway because (1) I have a bird feet fetish and (2) I love reading your discussions about how you arrive at your IDs (and I am curious to see what you decide this species is using very limited data). tags: Clapper Rail, Rallus longirostris, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz [Mystery bird] Clapper Rail, Rallus longirostris, photographed... Read more

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Mystery Bird: Least Bittern, Ixobrychus exilis

Posted 7 September 2010 by GrrlScientist

SUMMARY: Here’s a lovely North American species for you to identify! The camera angle will make this rather challenging, but there’s a few of you who can do it! tags: Least Bittern, Dwarf Bittern, Little Bittern, Cory’s Bittern, Least Heron, Ixobrychus exilis, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz [Mystery bird] Least Bittern, also known by a suite of other common names, including Dwarf or Little Bittern, Cory’s Bittern, and the Least Heron, Ixobrychus exilis, photographed Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Anahuac,... Read more

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Mystery Bird: Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Tryngites subruficollis

Posted 6 September 2010 by GrrlScientist

SUMMARY: This endangered migratory North American Mystery Bird species has a distinctive courtship display, can you tell me a little about that? tags: Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Tryngites subruficollis, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz [Mystery bird] Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Tryngites subruficollis, photographed Smith Point, Chambers County, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours] Image: Joseph Kennedy, 25 August 2010 [larger view]. Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/750s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400. Please name at... Read more

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Mystery Bird: Secretary Bird, Sagittarius serpentarius

Posted 5 September 2010 by GrrlScientist

SUMMARY: There are so many interesting things to say about this gorgeous African Mystery Bird that I am going to ask you to tell me something about this species that you think is especially fascinating. tags: Secretary Bird, Secretarybird, Sagittarius serpentarius, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz [Mystery bird] Secretary Bird, (also sometimes these two words are smooshed together into Secretarybird), Sagittarius serpentarius, photographed at Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, Africa. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]... Read more

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Mystery Bird: Violet-backed Starling, Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Posted 4 September 2010 by GrrlScientist

SUMMARY: This stunning Mystery Bird species is a member of a widespread family of birds, a family that occupies all habitat types except one. Which habitat type is not home to any member of this bird’s family? tags: Violet-backed Starling, Plum-coloured Starling, Amethyst Starling, Cinnyricinclus leucogaster, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz [Mystery bird] Violet-backed Starling, which is also known as the Plum-coloured or Amethyst Starling, Cinnyricinclus leucogaster, photographed at Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, Africa. [I will identify this bird... Read more

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Mystery Bird: Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea

Posted 3 September 2010 by GrrlScientist

SUMMARY: What sort of habitat would you expect to find yourself in if you saw this mystery bird in front of you? tags: Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz [Mystery bird] Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea, photographed Smith Point, Chambers County, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours] Image: Joseph Kennedy, 25 August 2010 [larger view]. Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/500s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400. Please name at... Read more

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