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Southern African Birds Trivia Quiz

How well do you know your southern African birds?

A multiple-choice quiz by indwangu. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
indwangu

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
116,622

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
905

Last 3 plays: Guest 31 (1/10), Guest 92 (6/10), Guest 105 (5/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. This is a common water bird that is noted for its sharp bill. It is sometimes mistaken for one of the cormorants. Hint

Pied Grebe

White-faced Whistler

Hammerkop

African Darter

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Question 2 of 10

2. What is the particular niche of the Gymnogene? Hint

Swooping raptor specilizing on waterbirds

Pursuit raptor specilizing on small passerines

Swooping raptor specilizing on rock hyrax

Crevice searcher for small prey

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Question 3 of 10

3. Of the four birds given, which is the most closely related to the secretary bird? Hint

Grey Heron

Marabou Stork

Osprey

African Spoonbill

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Question 4 of 10

4. The hornbill family is noted for its nesting habits. What do they do? Hint

Cavity nesters with the female being sealed inside the hole.

Biparental care with the male killing the weaker chick.

Communual nesters with group care by young males.

Biparental care with the female killing the weaker chick.

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Question 5 of 10

5. What is the origin of the Hoopoe's Latin name, Upupa epops? Hint

Greek for "crested seeker"

It was named for the unusual noise that is heard when it defecates.

The birds call sounds slightly like the Latin name.

Latin for "crested seeker"

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Question 6 of 10

6. Two species of oxpecker are found in this region. Name the one with both red and yellow colouration on the bill. Hint

Redbilled Oxpecker

Burnett's Oxpecker

Barbet Oxpecker

Yellowbilled oxpecker

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Question 7 of 10

7. To which family is the bearded vulture most closely related? Hint

Condors and New-world vultures

Storks

Hawks

Osprey

8. This bird has a display flight that starts with a series of 'tic-tic' calls that escalates to a high whistling 'pi-pi'. The bird then flies up about 20 - 30 meters and drops out of the sky. What is it? Hint

Painted Snipe

African Jacana

Redcrested korhaan

Natal Francolin

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Question 9 of 10

9. Where does the Rock Pratincole breed? Hint

On sandbanks in the Okavango Delta.

On matted vegetation floats in the Orange river delta.

In colonies on the eastern cape cliff lines.

On exposed rock on the Zambezi river in the low water season.

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which of these would you not see sitting on the end of a branch, swooping down for aerial and terrestrial prey? Hint

White Helmetshrike

Black Flycatcher

Fork-tailed Drongo

Lilacbreasted Roller

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 13 2024 : Guest 31: 1/10
Nov 21 2024 : Guest 92: 6/10
Nov 16 2024 : Guest 105: 5/10
Oct 28 2024 : Guest 206: 5/10
Oct 27 2024 : Guest 197: 5/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This is a common water bird that is noted for its sharp bill. It is sometimes mistaken for one of the cormorants.

Answer: African Darter

Widespread across the globe, anhingas are represented by four species, the African darter being one of them. These birds are also called 'snake birds' because of their habit of swimming along with just their necks out of the water.

2. What is the particular niche of the Gymnogene?

Answer: Crevice searcher for small prey

A fairly large raptor with noticeably bare facial skin, this bird is renowned for searching cracks and holes in trees for vertebrates and invertebrates. To achieve this the bird has evolved long bare legs with flexible joints.

3. Of the four birds given, which is the most closely related to the secretary bird?

Answer: Osprey

Although the secretary bird resembles the longer legged striding birds, it is most closely related to the birds of prey. These birds are noted for their hunting methods, which include stamping on prey such as rodents, lizards and snakes.

4. The hornbill family is noted for its nesting habits. What do they do?

Answer: Cavity nesters with the female being sealed inside the hole.

The female is sealed in a cavity by the male. He plugs up the hole entrance with mud and vegetation and she remains in the nest, shedding feathers to make a nest. During this time the male brings food to her and feeds her and the chicks through a slit in the seal.

5. What is the origin of the Hoopoe's Latin name, Upupa epops?

Answer: The birds call sounds slightly like the Latin name.

This bird's call is a frequent "hoop-hoop-hoop". The hoopoe is a widespread species, ranging as far north as Spain, but is commonly seen throughout southern Africa often in gardens.

6. Two species of oxpecker are found in this region. Name the one with both red and yellow colouration on the bill.

Answer: Yellowbilled oxpecker

Oxpeckers, relations of the starlings, are often seen on large herbivores gleaning parasites from the fur and skin. They serve their hosts by providing an alarm system, giving a harsh churring call when a predator approaches.

7. To which family is the bearded vulture most closely related?

Answer: Hawks

All the African vultures are related to eagles and hawks whereas recent DNA analysis has placed all the New World vultures in the same order as the storks. The similar appearance is the result of convergent evolution.

Answer: Redcrested korhaan

The redcrested korhaan is a bustard, and is named for the rusty red crest that is visble in breeding males.

9. Where does the Rock Pratincole breed?

Answer: On exposed rock on the Zambezi river in the low water season.

These swallow-sized birds are often seen skimming over the water, catching insects. A migrant to the area, it spends part of the year further north.

10. Which of these would you not see sitting on the end of a branch, swooping down for aerial and terrestrial prey?

Answer: White Helmetshrike

A gregarious bird that forages in the tree canopy and shrubline, the white helmetshrike is always on the move.

Source: Author indwangu

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