THINK YOU'RE A SAVVY BIRDER?

Sharon Milligan had the job of coming up with a quizzical photo for this week's quiz.
She did a good job with this White Eyed Vireo!

This article was published in June 2006. If you would like to read more articles, click on the blue title.

Important as it is, the correct identification of a bird is not an end in itself. It is the first step in getting to know a species as more than the sum of its parts. It's a real shame that, for so many so-called birders, watching birds is no more than a game that begins and ends with the identification process. If they are asked for information beyond the name of any given species, even when it's a common one, they founder on the shoals of their own ignorance.

One doesn't have to spend hours surfing the Internet and one doesn't have to own dozens of books. A current field guide is an education in itself, especially if one looks beyond the illustrations.

Here's a very elementary quiz about birds that can be seen on the Coast. Those of you who have actually read the text and studied the range maps of your field guide should encounter no problems; try the quiz without consulting your field guide. Beginners, open your books.

Q1. Slip the following species into the right category (permanent resident, summer resident, winter resident/visitor, transient): 

1 Eared Grebe, 2. Virginia Rail, 

3 Solitary Sandpiper, 4 Eastern Phoebe, 

5 House Wren, 6 Orange-crowned Warbler, 

7 Black-crowned Night-Heron, 8 Canada Goose, 

9 Mottled Duck, 10 Willet, 

11 Barn Owl, 12 Hairy Woodpecker, 

13 Loggerhead Shrike, 14 House Finch, 

15 Mississippi Kite,  16 Sandwich Tern, 

17 Broad-winged Hawk, 18 Acadian Flycatcher, 

19 Barn Swallow, 20 Wood Thrush, 

21 American Redstart, 22 Franklin's Gull, 

23 Bobolink, 24 Baltimore Oriole.

 Q2. Only two sparrows breed here on the Coast; what are they?

 Q3. What do these groups have in common?

>    Group A: American Kestrel, Osprey, Belted Kingfisher

>    Group B: Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, European Starling, House Sparrow

>    Group C: Least Flycatcher, Blue-headed Vireo, Wood Thrush, Canada Warbler

>    Group D: Snow Goose, Reddish Egret, Eastern Screech-Owl

Q4. Name the bird that doesn't belong:

>    Group A: Eastern Meadowlark, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Bobolink, European Starling, Brewer's Blackbird

>    Group B: Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Osprey

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Answers:

Question 1. Birds 1-6 are winter residents; birds 7-14 are permanent residents; birds 15-21 are summer residents; birds 22-24 are transients. 

Question 2. Bachman's Sparrow and Seaside Sparrow.

Question 3. Group A: All hover while searching for prey. Group B: All are introduced species. Group C: All have distinctive eye-rings or spectacles. Group D. Each has more than one color morph.

Question 4. Group A: Unlike the others in the list, the European Starling is not a blackbird. Group B: First three are carrion-eaters, the Osprey is not.

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Editor's note:
This Saturday at 1.15pm Sun Herald birding column writer, Jay Morris will be honoring Judy Toups and sharing some stories about her at an Audubon event. Even if you cannot attend the training sessions, come for lunch and hear Jay. He is a wonderful storyteller. 
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