Ten questions on birds and what flight demanded of them, each with the adaptation explained.
Almost everything unusual about birds traces back to the requirements of flight, from hollow bones to the structure of a feather. This quiz covers the record holders, the anatomy, and the behaviours that draw the most attention, including migration and vocal mimicry. It also covers the descent of birds from theropod dinosaurs, which the fossil evidence now supports firmly. The explanations connect each fact to the constraint it answers.
Every question in this quiz is listed below with its correct answer and the reasoning behind it. Play first if you would rather not see the answers — or read through as a study sheet.
Play it insteadAnswer: A. The ostrich
Why: Ostriches can exceed two and a half metres and 100 kilograms. They cannot fly, but run at speeds over 60 km/h.
Answer: A. The peregrine falcon
Why: Peregrines exceed 300 km/h in a hunting stoop. In level flight several other birds are quicker.
Answer: D. Theropod dinosaurs
Why: Birds descend from small feathered theropods, the same broad group as Tyrannosaurus. Feathers predate flight and first served insulation and display.
Answer: D. Ornithology
Why: Ornithology is the branch of zoology dealing with birds. Herpetology covers reptiles and amphibians, and ichthyology covers fish.
Answer: D. The wandering albatross
Why: Its wingspan can exceed three metres. The shape allows it to glide for hours over the ocean with barely a wingbeat.
Answer: B. A murder
Why: Collective nouns for birds mostly date from late medieval hunting manuals. A parliament refers to owls.
Answer: A. Sustained hovering
Why: They beat their wings in a figure-of-eight, producing lift on both strokes. They are the only birds that can also fly backwards.
Answer: D. Keratin
Why: Keratin is the same protein found in hair, nails and reptile scales. Its strength-to-weight ratio is what makes flight feathers viable.
Answer: A. Seasonal availability of food and breeding conditions
Why: Birds move to track food supply and suitable breeding grounds. Many navigate using a combination of the sun, stars and Earth's magnetic field.
Answer: A. The lyrebird
Why: Australian lyrebirds reproduce other bird calls and mechanical noises with striking accuracy. Parrots and mynas are also accomplished mimics.
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Brood patches, egg tricks and the birds that hand the whole job to one parent.
A bird that hatches covered in down and able to walk almost at once is described as what?
Ten bills, tongues and stomachs, and the food each of them evolved to handle.
A flamingo feeds by doing what?
A friendly tour of the planets, moons and the star at the middle of it all.
Which planet is closest to the Sun?