[steve_nova]

Time to exercise those grey cells again.

A couple of slightly more tricky ones perhaps to slow you up. Go on, have a go.


1. Which Old World family of birds are said (as a group) to represent the New World Hummingbirds both ecologically and sometimes in their dazzling colours?
2. What type of bird is a Brolga?
3. The genus of birds called Spheniscus have also given their name to the whole order Spheniciformes. What type of birds are they.
4. The fleshy cere surrounding the nostrils of this bird close upon entering water. What bird am I?
5. The only bird to have two toes on each foot, the larger of the two with an almost hoof-like nail.
6. The Tawny Frogmouth comes from where?
7. Ketupa are a remarkble genus of Owls well know for catching what?
8. The Peregrine Falcon does occasionally live up to it's name and peregrinate. What does this mean?
9. An asian bird clocked at 106mph in level flight. What type of bird?
10. An almost symbiotic relationship has developed between this bird and large mustelid. Name them both.
11. I live on Wolf Island (Isla Wolf) and feed largely on an unusual source of food. What am I and what is the food that makes up a significant part of my diet?
12. The largest of Africa's vulture species.
13. One of the very few "pack" hunting birds, I am concidered the most intelligent and fast learning of my type and falconers love me. What species am I?
14. The Prions are a type of Petrel that specialise in feeding on what?
15. Sangrouse are able to transport water to their chicks in an unusual way, How?
16. I am the single (species) representative of my New World family in the Old World and my generic name translates as cave dweller.
17. What family of birds does the European Robin belong to?
18. The Oropendola's build their unusual nests to mimic what and for what reason?
19. Why do Waxwings get their name?
20. Guiness once used me as their logo.

Sorry about the late ammendement to #11

[Nancy]

2. Brolga is a Crane.
3. Penguins.
5. Ostrich.
6. Australia, with race phalenoides on Torres Strait Islands.
7. Fish.
8. To travel from one place to another.
14. Euphausiids and other small crustacians and some small fish.
17. Warblers, Sylviidae.
18. Elongated mesh handbags!
19. They have red, waxy tips to the secondary wing feathers.

[Nancy]

Ooops. Sorry Steve. I just went back to the previous Quiz and realised I should have waited before sending my answers.

I was so excited to be able to answer a few before everone else had got in first. Now I know that they were all waiting.

Thanks for putting them up. I usually find the quizzes days after everyone has answered the questions.

[steve_nova]

Hi Nancy, I don't mind so much as there are a few more tricky ones in here. Not bad at all so far but, elongated mesh handbags

[steve_nova]

Answers


1. Which Old World family of birds are said (as a group) to represent the New World Hummingbirds both ecologically and sometimes in their dazzling colours? Sunbirds, (Nectariniidae)
2. What type of bird is a Brolga? Crane (Grus rubicundus)
3. The genus of birds called Spheniscus have also given their name to the whole order Spheniciformes. What type of birds are they. Penguins
4. The fleshy cere surrounding the nostrils of this bird close upon entering water. What bird am I? Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
5. The only bird to have two toes on each foot, the larger of the two with an almost hoof-like nail. Ostrich (Struthio camelus)
6. The Tawny Frogmouth comes from where? Australia
7. Ketupa are a remarkble genus of Owls well know for catching what? Fish
8. The Peregrine Falcon does occasionally live up to it's name and peregrinate. What does this mean? To travel from one place to another
9. An asian bird clocked at 106mph in level flight. What type of bird? Spine-tailed Swift (Genus Chateura)
10. An almost symbiotic relationship has developed between this bird and large mustelid. Name them both. Honeyguide (Indicator indicator) and Honey Badger or Ratel (Melivora capensis)
11. I live on Wolf Island (Isla Wolf) and feed largely on an unusual source of food. What am I and what is the food that makes up a significant part of my diet? Vampire Finch, (Geospiza difficilis) and blood makes up a large part of the diet.
12. The largest of Africa's vulture species. Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotus)
13. One of the very few "pack" hunting birds, I am concidered the most intelligent and fast learning of my type and falconers love me. What species am I? Harris's Hawk
14. The Prions are a type of Petrel that specialise in feeding on what? Mostly small crustaceans that they strain through bristles in their bills.
15. Sangrouse are able to transport water to their chicks in an unusual way, How? Absorbent breast feathers that they dip into a pool of water.
16. I am the single (species) representative of my New World family in the Old World and my generic name translates as cave dweller. Eurasian Wren, (Trogladytes trogladytes).
17. What family of birds does the European Robin belong to? Thrush family, (Turdidae)
18. The Oropendola's build their unusual nests to mimic what and for what reason? Aggressive wasps. The wasps leave the birds alone but attack any potential nest raiders or predators that come too close.
19. Why do Waxwings get their name? The red wax-like feathers protruding from their secondary wing feathers.
20. Guiness once used me as their logo. Toucan

[Stringer]

13 out 10.....im improving!
Great fun Steve. Thanks a lot

[Stringer]

err i meant out of 20!

[Michael Frankis]

18/20 here - might have got 19 if I'd seen the change from Fox Island to Wolf Island before the results were posted - the only Fox Islands I could find were in the Aleutians, so I was struggling (and failing!) to find an endemic auklet with a peculiar diet!

Michael

[Michael Frankis]

Oh, and by the way . . . the 106mph claim is VERY dubious, and almost certainly grossly exaggerated

M

[steve_nova]

Well done Michael, you're a right clivvor cloggs

Excluding my error for the island, which one did you get wrong?

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Steve,

#13 - the flock-hunting raptor. I was stuck with a choice of Lesser Kestrel or Red-footed Falcon, neither of which struck me as good falconry birds!!

The Harris's Hawks I've seen in TX and Mexico were hunting singly, so this species didn't spring to mind as a potential answer.

Michael

[steve_nova]

Hi Michael

Here is an interesting article about the highly social Harris's Hawk and it's "pack" hunting behaviour. http://web.gosanangelo.com/archive/0...02111716.shtml

[steve_nova]

I'm not too sure if this is the only bird that hunts cooperatively as a coordinated unit. I have heard and read of Spheniscus Penguins and Eudyptula Penguins (all fish eating species) driving fish into shallows etc for easy picking and herding them into tight masses before shooting through the dense shoals snapping up the fish.

I also recall from the depths of my memory a type of long tailed forest falcon from south east asia that hunts cooperatively. Anyone know what this may be?

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Steve,

Several pelicans also fish co-operatively, herding shoals of fish into each others' mouths. But I guess fishing isn't usually called 'hunting'.

Then there's also Dartford Warbler - Stonechat cooperation: the Stonechat acts guard, the Dartford goes in, finds some insects, disturbs others which jump out to be easy prey for the Stonechat. But is it 'hunting' when it is insects?!

And none of these is popular with falconers!!

Michael