'Official' Birds of the Provinces & Territories Quiz

Answer: Newfoundland and Labrador

The Atlantic Puffin has been the provincial bird since 1991. Over 90% of all North America's puffins breed around the Newfoundland and Labrador coasts. They live approximately 25 years.

Answer: Blue Jay

The Blue Jay was officially named the provincial bird in 1977. It has a sky-blue head, wings and tail feathers. Its throat and breast are white, with some black feathers on the wing tips and long tail. Its diet is mostly vegetarian and it will quickly come to a bird feeder hanging outside your window.

Answer: Osprey

The osprey is a bird of prey that is smaller than an eagle, but larger than a hawk, with fish accounting for about 99% of its diet. It has barbed pads on the bottom of its feet help it grip the slippery fish. The Osprey was declared the provincial bird in 1994. Both the osprey and cormorant are also names of types of aircraft.

Answer: Black-Capped Chickadee

It became New Brunswick's official bird 1983. It's distinctive 'chickadee -dee-dee' sound can be heard throughout the year. The sounds the Chickadee makes are complex, and can communicate different types of information. It is a a fairly tame and common bird through much of North America. (If you are really steady and don't move you can feed one out of your hand, but it takes patience!)

Answer: Snowy Owl

The Snowy Owl was adopted as Quebec's provincial bird in 1987. A large owl of arctic and subarctic regions, it has snow-white feathers with dark markings. Unlike most owls it is active during the day as well as at night.

Answer: Common Loon

Go for it. I live in Ontario, and I'm use to the 'Hermit is as crazy as a loon' jokes. The Common Loon became our province's official bird in 1994. This bird is a familiar sight on a northern lake where their loud eerie call is unmistakable. There are a few on the wee lake behind my place.

Answer: Great Grey Owl

Adopted in 1987, the Great Grey Owl is the largest owl in North America. It can have a wingspan of up to 5 feet. The female will lay between 2-5 eggs each year.

Answer: Saskatchewan

The Sharp-tailed Grouse is one of Saskatchewan's most popular game birds. The female lays an average of 10 to 14 eggs! They are mainly vegetarians although they do eat some insects during the summer.

Answer: Great Horned Owl

The Great Horned Owl was adopted as Alberta's provincial bird in 1977. Great Horned Owls are large owls, and one of the most prominent features are the ears which can look like horns. Most mate for life laying 1 to 5 eggs each year. It hunts mostly between dusk and dawn, and its night vision and hearing are excellent.

Answer: Steller's Jay

In 1987, British Columbia chose the Steller's Jay as their provincial bird. The Steller's Jay can be told apart from its cousin, the Blue Jay, by its solid black head and neck, with blue back and body. Steller's and Blue Jays are the only North American jays with crests. It was named after Georg Steller.

Answer: Common Raven

The Raven was adopted as the official bird in 1985. They mate for life and are quite an intelligent bird, and will feed on your picnic lunches if you are not careful! Inuit people tell of ravens hunting with humans, and describe the birds circling in flight to direct the hunters to caribou. I just had to add the Hermit Thrush in there, I really didn't know I had a bird named after me!

Answer: Gyrfalcon

The Gyrfalcon became the official bird of the Northwest Territories in 1990. It is the largest of the falcons and breeds throughout the tundra. They vary in color from white through shades of grey and brown to almost black.

Answer: Rock Ptarmigan

Adopted in 1999, the Rock Ptarmigan, which lives here throughout the year, is hard to spot. In summer their brown plumage blends in with the surroundings; in winter they are pure white.

Answer: Canada Goose

It was part of the 1986 series 'Birds of Canada' placed into circulation in 1990. I never got to see to many of the $100 dollar ones, but they are quite nice. This one was brown in colour, with a Canada goose on the reverse side flying over open water with land in the background. For Canada's 100th birthday in 1967, the Canadian Mint issued a series of coins depicting Canada's wildlife, the Canada Goose was on the silver dollar.

Answer: British Columbia

You would find 362 species in British Columbia, and in second place, the province of Ontario, where 318 species regularly appear. (source Hinterland Who's Who http://www.hww.ca)


I hope you enjoyed this quiz 'Official' birds of the Provinces & Territories' and please don't forget to rate it (and others) when you are done!