National Birds of South America Quiz

Answer: Argentina

The rufous hornero is found throughout the Eastern parts of South America where it is also known as the red ovenbird. Their nests are made of clay and are referred to as "ovens". These sturdy enclosures are used by other species when the rufous hornero is through with them.

Answer: From Mexico to Argentina

Wherever there are humid forests in South America, there are likely populations of the scarlet macaw. This large neo-tropical parrot is distinctive because of its intensely-coloured plumage. The ancient Mayas related its red feathers to the power of sun and fire. They are threatened in some areas because of the high demand from those who wish to keep them as pets.

Answer: Belize

There are five genera and more than forty species of toucan. One of these is Toucan Sam, the "spokes-bird" for Fruit Loops breakfast cereal. Another, the keel-billed toucan, is the national bird of Belize. Belize is located just south of Mexico, north and east of Guatemala and adjacent to the Caribbean Sea.

Answer: Bolivia

Robert LeRoy Parker (Butch Cassidy, played by Paul Newman) and Harry Longabaugh (the Sundance Kid, played by Robert Redford) met their end in Bolivia. Bolivia shares its national bird, the Andean condor, with Chile, Columbia, and Ecuador. This condor is the largest flying bird in the world, nests at extreme elevations, lives up to seventy years and is "nearly threatened" in terms of maintaining its natural population.

Answer: All of these

There are even a variety spellings/pronunciations of the Guyanese word for this bird: hoatzin, hoactzin, and hoazin. The birds are somewhat malodorous which leads to their colloquial name of stinkbird. The birds are sociable and are often found in the midst of herds of cows and flocks of sheep.

Answer: Venezuelan troupial

The Venezuelan troupial (Icterus icterus) has a range well beyond Venezuela. It is also found in Colombia and on many Caribbean islands. It has the rather nasty habit of stealing nests from other birds, driving off the parents, and eating the chicks or eggs left behind. But it is beautiful in plumage of orange, black and white.

Answer: Brazil

Brazil is famous not only for great musicians, great football players and great race-car drivers, but also for the Rufous-bellied thrush (Turdus rufiventris), the national bird. This songbird became the state bird of São Paulo in 1966 and the national bird in 2002. It is so common that Brazilians call it the "robin."

Answer: Uruguay

The Southern Lapwing is a wading bird found throughout South America, with a growing presence in Central America, as well. It feeds on small fish and other aquatic prey. In Uruguay, the bird is called tero and the national rugby team is known as Los Teros. In Brazil, it known as the quero-quero which is an onomatopoeia for the sound which Brasileiros think it makes.

Answer: Paraguay

The capture of Bare-throated Bellbirds to become cage animals threatens their native populations in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. The males are the more interesting specimens: all white and capable of a distinctive call which some compare to a hammer striking an anvil.

Answer: Peru

Peru is biodiverse. At one recent count, there were 1800 species of birds in Peru. Among them is the national bird, the Andean cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus). This bird is also known as "tunki" in the Indian language Quechua. It ranges throughout the cloud forests of South America.

The males, which have elaborate and brightly-coloured head feathers, compete for female sexual favours; the impregnated females build their nests and hatch their eggs with no help from the males.