1. How many eyelids do birds have? A. None B. One C. Two D. Three
D. Three TOPICS: They have an upper lid resembling that of humans, a lower lid that closes when a bird sleeps, and a third lid, called a nictitating membrane, that sweeps across the eye sideways, starting from the side near the beak. This lid is a thin, translucent fold of skin that moistens and cleans the eye and protects it from wind and bright light.
2. Which is the true fact about birds’ sleeping habits? A. They need very little sleep B. They need a lot of sleep C. They sleep about the same amount as the average human D. They never sleep
A. They need very little sleep TOPICS: Many seabirds, in particular, sleep very little. For example, the sooty tern, which rarely lands on water, may fly for several years with only brief periods of sleep lasting a few seconds each. Flying is so effortless for the sooty tern and some other seabirds that it takes virtually no energy at all.
3. The bowerbirds of Australia and New Guinea got their name from which trait? A. The female’s refusal to leave the nest until the eggs are hatched B. The male’s refusal to leave the nest until the eggs are hatched C. The males building bowers for shelter, which they decorate with colorful objects such as flower petals, feathers, fruit, and even human-made items such as ribbons and tinfoil, to attract the females during courtship. D. The females building bowers for shelter, which they decorate with colorful objects such as flower petals, feathers, fruit, and even human-made items such as ribbons and tinfoil, to attract the males during courtship.
C. The males building bowers for shelter, which they decorate with colorful objects such as flower petals, feathers, fruit, and even human-made items such as ribbons and tinfoil, to attract the females during courtship. TOPICS: How many people got that right!
4. Is one of these answers not a true collective description of a bird group? A. A wedge of swans B. A nest of pheasants C. An ostentation of peacocks D. An exaltation of larks
They are all correct! TOPICS: Although there were some pretty obscure terms there, don’t you think!
5. Seabirds have the longest migration patterns. How long can these trips get? A. 20,000 miles B. 10,000 miles C. 5,000 miles D. 1,000 miles
A. 20,000 miles TOPICS: That’s further than many humans travel in their lifetime!
6. Can you guess how many known species of birds there are? A. 100 B. 1,000 C. 10,000 D. 100,000
C. 10,000 TOPICS: This includes all modern or recently extinct species.
7. Birds do what faster than any other animal? A. Breathe B. Pump their hearts C. Chew D. Procreate
A. Breathe TOPICS: This is needed to sustain the high metabolism necessary for flight. For example, a flying pigeon breathes 450 times each minute, whereas a human, when running, might breathe only about 30 times each minute.
8. Is one of these answers not a true collective description of a bird group? A. A charm of goldfinches B. A cast of hawks C. A watch of nightingales D. A clowder of quail
D. A clowder of quail TOPICS: You can have either a bevy or a covey of quail, but not a clowder. You can however have a clowder of cats!
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
