Science
Physical Characteristics
Groups
Vocabulary
Misc
100
What is the name for the upward force generated by a wing that opposes the force of gravity?
Lift
Broad-winged soaring raptors maximise lift to reduce energy use.
100
What is the name for the large flight feathers attached to the “hand” region of a bird’s wing that provide thrust and control?
Primaries (primary flight feathers)
The gaps between spread primaries on soaring birds help reduce turbulence.
100
This group is mostly nocturnal, regurgitates pellets (of bones, fur, and feathers), and has special feet that are covered in feathers and zygodactyl.
Owls
100
A behaviour, physical feature, or other characteristic that helps an animal survive and make the most out of its habitat.
An adaptation
100
Birds of prey often have two foveae in each eye rather than one. What is the function of the fovea?
An area of the retina with very high visual acuity used for sharp, detailed vision.
Some raptors use one fovea for looking straight ahead and another for tracking objects at an angle.
200
What is the name for a diagram that shows how energy moves between organisms in an ecosystem? The four important physical characteristics of raptors, or birds of prey.
Food web
200
Why do many woodland hunting raptors such as hawks tend to have relatively shorter, broader wings than open-country soaring raptors?
Shorter, broader wings allow greater manoeuvrability and rapid turns through trees.
200
This group eats mostly carrion, which is why some say they are not truly raptors.
Vultures
200
Which bird belongs in the family, Pandionidae,
The osprey (separate from the eagle, hawk and buzzard family Accipitridae)
200
What is the common name of Buteo lagopus
The rough-legged buzzard
300
Birds require large amounts of oxygen during flight. What process moves oxygen from the lungs into the bloodstream?
Diffusion
Birds also have air sacs that make airflow through the lungs unusually efficient.
300
Owls have this kind of vision, in which both eyes focus on an image at the same time.
Binocular vision
300
This group has short wings and long rudder like tails, used to maneuver in between trees to catch prey. They are small to medium sized hawks that live in deeply wooded areas. The Sharp-Shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, and Northern Goshawk are all part of this group.
Accipiters
300
When a bird of prey hunts during dawn and dusk, the dimly lit hours of the day, we say it is this.
Crepuscular
300
What is the common name of Clang clanga
(Greater) spotted eagle
400
What is the scientific system of grouping organisms according to shared characteristics and evolutionary relationships called?
Taxonomy
400
This is the flattened area of feathers on an owl's face that helps to funnel sound into the ears.
Facial disk
400
This group has long wide wings and short broad tails. They mainly hunt from perches and swoop to the ground to catch prey. The Red-Tailed Hawk, Red-Shouldered Hawk, Ospreys, and Eagles are all part of this group. They often live in more open habitats.
Buteos
400
What is the name of the transparent third eyelid that sweeps across a bird’s eye to protect it while maintaining vision?
nictating membrane
Raptors use it during feeding, hunting, and sometimes high-speed flight.
400
What is the common name of Circus cyaneus
Hen harrier
500
A species evolves traits over many generations because individuals with advantageous characteristics leave more offspring. What is this process called?
Natural Selection
500
The ridge over the eye of diurnal birds of prey (like hawks) that helps to reduce glare, shades the eye, and protects it from wind and dust.
The supercilliary ridge
500
Name the family: peregrine, saker, gyrfalcon, merlin, hobby, and kestrel all belong to which taxonomic family?
Falconidae
500
What is the keel (carina) of the sternum?
A large raised ridge along the breastbone providing attachment for powerful flight muscles.
500
The scientific name of the merlin is Falco columbarius. What does columbarius mean?
"Of pigeons" or "pigeon hunter."