British Birds - Name the Family Quiz

Answer: Finch

Siskins (Carduelis spinus) can look rather like small greenfinches but are more delicately marked. Their breeding range in Britain increased greatly during the latter half of the twentieth century. Other finches found in Britain, whose names do not include the suffix 'finch', include linnet, twite, redpoll and brambling.

Answer: Rail

The moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) belong to the Rallidae family which includes rails, crakes and gallinules. Another common British member of this family is the coot.

Answer: Thrush

Blackbirds (Turdus merula) are found in a wide range of habitats, from city centres to mountainous regions. The female looks more typically thrush-like than does the male. Other thrushes which can be seen in Britain include the winter visitors fieldfare and redwing.

Answer: Gull

Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) spend much of the year far out at sea. They return to their nesting sites in each Spring. Unlike some other gull species they are rarely seen inland. Their unusual name derives from their rather mournful cry.

Answer: Bunting

Male yellowhammers (Emeriza citrinella)are easy to spot as they usually deliver their song from the top branch of a bush or some other vantage point. During the second half of the Twentieth Century both their range and numbers of individuals declined markedly. They are now absent from several places where they were once considered a common species.

Answer: Crow

Only one species of jay (Garrulus glandarius) nests in Britain. Fellow members of the crow family found in the UK include magpie, jackdaw and chough.

Answer: Auk

Puffins (Fraticula arctica) nest at the tops of cliffs in burrows which they usually excavate themselves, although sometimes they will use a rabbit's hole.
They belong to the auk family which also includes other cliff-nesting species such as guillemot, razorbill and little auk.

Answer: Warbler

The numbers of whitethroats arriving in Britain (Sylvia communis) declined by some 77% during 1969/70 (RSPB). This was probably due to a severe drought in their African wintering quarters. Although numbers have risen slowly they are still below the pre 1969 levels.

Answer: Petrel

Fulmars (Fulmaris glacialis) belong to a group of birds called tubenoses, and are cousins to albatrosses. Taxonomically they are placed in the petrel family Other British representatives of this family include storm petrel and leach's petrel. Fulmars look superficially like gulls but in flight have a very different action, stiff wings giving short flaps interspersed with long glides.

Answer: Babbler

Despite its name, the bearded tit (Panuris biamicus) is not closely related to the true tits. It is more closely related to the old world babblers. It is a species that has sometimes puzzled taxonomists as most babblers live in tropical not temperate climates. Some people prefer the less confusing name of bearded reedling.