What Bird Am I?

Ever just sit outside and listen to all the birds singing? Chances are you’ve never gone a single day without hearing a bird. They’re everywhere, and come in all shapes and sizes, and adapt to every sort of habitat and lifestyle, from desert-roaming roadrunners to semi-aquatic penguins and dippers. Here’s a bit about each of the birds in this quiz:

Peregrine Falcon
These swift predators used to be on the endangered species list, but thanks to conservation efforts, are surviving and thriving! They can fly up to 60 miles per hour in pursuit of prey, and roam all the way from the Arctic to South America.

Bald Eagle
Everyone knows that the bald eagle is the official bird of the U.S.A., and appears on everything from currency to official documents. But did you know that adult bald eagles return to the same nest every year, and keep building it? Some bald eagle nests are even 10 feet across! Female bald eagles choose where to build it, and the male lends a hand.

Umbrella Bird
Umbrella birds are tropical birds that prefer rainforests. They’re named for the crest of feathers that sits on their heads and sort of resembles an umbrella, but it’s not to keep the birds dry—they use it in their mating dance! They also have an inflatable waddle under their beak, which puffs up to show other umbrella birds that they’re a suitable mate.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird
There are many species of hummingbird, but these are some of the most common, and some of the most striking! As their name suggests, they have bright red feathers on their throats that make them hard to miss. These little birds flap their wings about 53 times per second, which lets them hover in midair, and even fly backward!

Toucan
Toucans are large, tropical birds, with even larger beaks! Those big, colorful beaks can grow up to 4 times the size of their head, and they use these peaks to reach far into trees for food. It’s also used to attract mates and scare away predators—you wouldn’t want to go up against a huge bird with such a fierce set of chompers, would you?

Mockingbird
There are actually 16 bird species we call “mockingbird,” but only 1 is native to North America! Their favorite plant to nibble and nest in, the rambler rose, is actually an invasive species native to Asia. And of course, they’re capable of mimicking virtually any other bird, and have even been known to mimic electronic devices!

Emperor Penguin
Emperor penguins are some of the most popular and iconic penguin species. They’re only found in the frozen landscapes of Antarctica, where they stand tall as the largest type of penguin, reaching about 120 cm high! In the coldest months, they huddle together for warmth, keeping the cold at bay with their insulating feathers and layers of fat.

Raven
Ravens are some of the smartest birds around, known to use crude tools and even take a moment out of their day to play! They’re also great mimics, repeating the sounds of human voices every now and then. And, they’re super adaptable birds, able to live in pretty much any climate, which is why they’re so common.

Roadrunner
We all know roadrunners from a certain cartoon character who’s always being chased by a wily coyote. And true to life, a roadrunner’s greatest predator is the desert coyote! But roadrunners are cunning hunters themselves, going after prey that other birds would find toxic, like venomous lizards or snakes, striking them with their sharp beaks, then hitting them against rocks before they swallow them whole!

Snowy Owl
Snowy owls are the heaviest owls in North America, thanks to their insulated feathers that keep them warm in freezing temperatures—feathers that even cover their feet! Snowy owls eat their prey whole, and have an average wingspan of 4-5 feet, making them quite the imposing hunters. Despite their size, they fly virtually silently, and leave imprints in the snow where they’ve snatched their prey.