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British Birds - Nicknames Trivia Quiz

Can you identify these British birds from well-known nicknames? I have used names that I know to be currently in use and would welcome any feedback from FT players on the use of these and any other bird nicknames in current use.

A multiple-choice quiz by Mutchisman. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
Mutchisman

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
252,064

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1450

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 51 (7/10), victoriasophie (4/10), Guest 82 (9/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. "Peewit" is a very commonly used alternative name for which wader? Hint

Curlew

Lapwing

Whimbrel

Knot

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Question 2 of 10

2. The name "hedge-sparrow" is often used for which common species? Hint

Dunnock

Robin

Wren

Starling

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Question 3 of 10

3. In parts of northern Britain the name "corbies" is given to which type of birds? Hint

Crows

Finches

Ducks

Owls

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Question 4 of 10

4. "Throstle" is a local dialect term for which bird? Hint

Blackbird

Song thrush

Heron

Reed bunting

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Question 5 of 10

5. This bird is usually found around northern Scottish coasts where it is often referred to as a "bonxie." What is its official name? Hint

Black guillemot

Great skua

Eider duck

Common tern

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Question 6 of 10

6. "Spuggie" is a name often used in the English midlands for which bird? Hint

Sparrow

Starling

Robin

Chaffinch

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Question 7 of 10

7. I have heard the term "Jack screamer" used for this bird, but the usage seems to be dying out. Which bird has this apt nickname? Hint

Swallow

Whooper swan

Peregrine

Swift

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Question 8 of 10

8. This sounds more like an official title than a nickname, but which species is called "the warden of the marshes?" Hint

Snipe

Mallard

Redshank

Water rail

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which owl species is sometimes nicknamed the "screech owl?" Hint

Short-eared owl

Long-eared owl

Barn owl

Little owl

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Question 10 of 10

10. This is a term most often used by sailors and fishermen. Which species is called "Mother Carey's chickens?" Hint

Little auk

Manx shearwater

Storm petrel

Pomarine skua

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 17 2024 : Guest 51: 7/10
Dec 02 2024 : victoriasophie: 4/10
Nov 01 2024 : Guest 82: 9/10
Oct 30 2024 : Guest 90: 9/10
Oct 25 2024 : larkydarky: 6/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. "Peewit" is a very commonly used alternative name for which wader?

Answer: Lapwing

My parents always used the name peewit for lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) and it was a long time before I realised that lapwing was the 'proper' name. Peewit is an onomatopeic interpretation of the lapwing's piping call. Green plover is often given in books as another alternative for lapwing but I have never heard it used.

2. The name "hedge-sparrow" is often used for which common species?

Answer: Dunnock

The term hedge-sparrow is very commonly used for dunnock (Prunella modularis) even though it is not closely related to sparrows. It belongs to a family called accentors. The bill shape is diagnostic; sparrows have stout beaks for cracking seeds etc, dunnocks are insectivorous and have thin, pointed beaks. I have also heard dunnocks being called 'hedgebugs'.

3. In parts of northern Britain the name "corbies" is given to which type of birds?

Answer: Crows

In Scotland, hooded crows (Corvus corone corvix) are often called hoodies and carrion crows (Corvus corone corone) are corbies, but I have also heard ravens (Corvus corax) and rooks (Corvus frugilegus) being called corbies so it is used more as a generic name for birds of the crow family rather than a specific name.

4. "Throstle" is a local dialect term for which bird?

Answer: Song thrush

Throstle is still used occasionally to differentiate the song thrush (Turdis philomelos) from its larger cousin, the mistle thrush (Turdus viscivorous). You may be likely to hear it around West Bromwich as 'The Throstles' is also a nickname for West Bromwich Albion Football Club.

5. This bird is usually found around northern Scottish coasts where it is often referred to as a "bonxie." What is its official name?

Answer: Great skua

Bonxie stems from the norse word for the great skua (Stercorarius skua). Bonxie is more widely used in the Orkney and Shetland Isles.

6. "Spuggie" is a name often used in the English midlands for which bird?

Answer: Sparrow

Spuggie is still widely used as a diminutive form of sparrow. There is usually no differentiation made between house sparrow (Passer domesticus) and tree sparrow (Passer montanus).

7. I have heard the term "Jack screamer" used for this bird, but the usage seems to be dying out. Which bird has this apt nickname?

Answer: Swift

Every year four or five pairs of swifts (Apus apus) take up residence in our loft and, although we are delighted to have them, they do start their loud screaming calls at about 4am in June! Jack screamers indeed.

8. This sounds more like an official title than a nickname, but which species is called "the warden of the marshes?"

Answer: Redshank

The piping alarm call of redshank (Tringa totanus) is usually the first sign that a predator, or other danger, is approaching. Most other species have learnt to identify the call and take appropriate action.

9. Which owl species is sometimes nicknamed the "screech owl?"

Answer: Barn owl

Barn owls (Tyto alba) make a variety of calls including a rather eerie screech which is how this nickname comes about. There is also a distinct group of 21 species of owls called screech owls, but they are in a different genus to the barn owl.

10. This is a term most often used by sailors and fishermen. Which species is called "Mother Carey's chickens?"

Answer: Storm petrel

I'm not altogether sure how storm petrels (Hydrobates pelagicus) acquired this rather strange soubriquet, so would welcome any information FT players might have.
ED: Mother Carey's Chickens is an alternate sailors name for storm petrels. So who is Mother Carey? Mother Carey is a corruption of Mater Cara, one of the epithets of Maria, the mother of Christ, used by the Spanish and Portuguese sailors who were the first westerners in the southern seas. "
About 10,000 pairs of storm petrels nest around British coasts; about one third of the world population.

Source: Author Mutchisman

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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