Take the feeder-bird quiz!

		American Robins locate earthworms by sight sound touch smell  According to Project Feederwatch data, this is the most commonly reported bird at bird feeders in North America House Sparrow Downy Woodpecker Dark-eyed Junco American Goldfinch What term is used to describe birds that usually spend their winters in remote northern areas but fly further south when their food supply has dwindled? (Hint: it is often used to describe winter finches and red-breasted nuthatches.) explorative migratory explosive irruptive What disease has been recently spreading among House Finches and American Goldfinches in the eastern United States? Salmonellosis Conjunctivitis Trichomoniasis Aspergillosis What aggressive and noisy feeder bird was introduced to North America in the late 1800’s as part of one man’s plan to have all of the birds in Shakespeare’s works living in Central Park in New York City? European Starling House Sparrow Rock Dove Ring-necked Pheasant These birds have a black cap and a white underside. They creep up and down tree trunks hiding their food in crevices. Black-capped Chickadee White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Hairy Woodpecker These are the smaller (typically) of the two most common birds of prey to be seen at feeders. Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Cooper’s Hawk Northern Harrier You should use this kind of seed to best attract small finches to your feeder. striped sunflower niger (thistle) millet whole corn Woodpeckers are especially fond of this type of food at feeders. fruit millet suet peanuts How often should you clean your feeder? once a year once a month once every two weeks every day What proportions of sugar to boiling water should you use when making hummingbird food? one part water to one part sugar two parts water to one part sugar four parts water to one part sugar ten parts water to one part sugar When counting birds for Project FeederWatch, you should NOT count: predatory birds that are attracted by birds at your feeder birds that are attracted to fruit or ornamental plantings in your count site birds that are attracted by a bird bath in your count site birds that just pass through or above your yard This feeder bird was recently split into 2 species, one in the East and one in the West. Scrub Jay Rufous-sided Towhee Northern Flicker Dark-eyed Junco This feeder bird has a special pouch in its throat where it stores seed for a few hours. An adaptation to the cold climates this bird inhabits, this pouch allows the bird to feed rapidly and then digest some seed later while resting in a sheltered spot. American Tree Sparrow Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll The brightness of the red color in a House Finch’s plumage is largely determined by: the types commercial birdseed in their diet weather genetics certain types of wild foods in their diet Which of the following is TRUE about the behavior of American goldfinches? females are dominant over males females tend to migrate farther south than males females tend to flock in separate flocks from males in winter females tend to stay farther north in the winter than males The roots of the tongues of many species of woodpecker reach: to the back of the throat around the back of the skull, over the top of the skull and into an area right behind the right eyeball down the throat and attaching to the bottom of the furcula (wishbone) to the back of the skull This bird loves to eat berries. It is crested and has a black mask, a gray belly, wings with yellow spots and a yellow-tipped tail. Northern Shrike Steller’s Jay Cedar Waxwing Bohemian Waxwing Click here for the answers!
		Written by Nate Cote who assisted with Project FeederWatch through the Federal Work Study Program.