Birding Club Jeopardy

Feathered Feats

100

This flightless bird is the largest avian species in the world.

Ostrich

200

This raptor is not only the fastest bird, but the fastest animal on earth, reaching speeds upwards of 270 mph. 

Peregrine Falcon

300

A true wanderlust, this bird migrates farther than any other species, making the annual journey from Antarctica to the High Arctic. 

Arctic Tern

400

Reaching a tinnitus-inducing 125 decibels, this species is the loudest bird. 

White Bellbird

500

This bird, native to grasslands across Europe and Asia, is the largest avian species by weight.

Great Bustard

Birds in Culture

100

This brilliant red bird is the state bird of seven states, including Ohio.

Northern Cardinal

200

This 2011 movie, starring Jack Black, Owen Wilson, and Steve Martin, highlights the chaotic nature of competitive birding as the three compete to see the most birds in one calendar year. 

The Big Year

300

This United States president owned a parrot he affectionately knew as Polly, who was famously removed from the president's funeral due to her vulgar language. 

Andrew Jackson

400

This unfortunate White Stork, found alive in Europe with an African arrow stuck in its neck, is credited for the discovery of bird migration. 

The Pfielstorch

500

This 1889 book is colloquially considered to be the first birding field guide. 

"Birds Through an Opera Glass" by Merriam Bailey

Fake ID

100

This noisy bird, frequently found near water, is black all over, except for its wings, which feature bright red epaulettes.

Red-Winged Blackbird

200

This small backyard bird with a funny name has a white belly, gray back, and a crest in its head. 

Tufted Titmouse

300

This bird is large and dark, is frequently seen soaring in circles, has a red head, and sports white flight feathers along the full length of its wings.

Turkey Vulture

400

This small owl, which nests in tree cavities in the eastern United States, has a soft, rolling call, one that is not reflected well in its common name.

Eastern Screech Owl

500

This large dark corvid is easily distinguished from other similar looking relatives by its high-pitched and nasally caws. 

Fish Crow

Fresh Features

100

Hummingbirds evolved to acquire long, specialized probing beaks to feed on this.

Nectar

200

This group of birds is famous for their large throat pouches, which they use to catch and feed on fish. 

Pelicans

300

This order of birds lacks oil glands to coat their feathers, giving them the ability to fly without making a sound.

Owls

400

This genus, exclusive to Africa, is the only group of birds to be truly green, with feathers containing the copper-rich pigment known as turacoverdin. 

Turacos

500

This strange and unsightly feature, donned by birds like turkeys and bellbirds, consist of strange fleshy outgrowths, which are most often a feature of sexual dimorphism.  

Wattles

Gizmos and Gadgets

100

This handheld piece of equipment is standard in the hobby of birding, allowing birders to get e better look at birds from a distance.

Binoculars

200

This app by the Cornell Lab is invaluable in helping birders identify birds in the field, without needing to drag a hefty field guide with them. 

Merlin

300

This tripod-mounted monocular will help you view birds from a great distance when binoculars don't cut it. 

Spotting Scope

400

This Cornell Lab software is used by most birders to document their sightings, stay updated on rare bird alerts, and contribute to citizen science. 

eBird

500

This field guide famously uses arrows to highlight useful field marks for identifying specific bird species.

Peterson