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Can You Identify All of These European Birds?

By: Jacqueline Samaroo

5 min

Can You Identify All of These European Birds?

Image: pbombaert/Moment/Getty Images

About This Quiz

Don't let the answers fly away!

Europe is one of the smallest continents in the world and so, as a result, one would expect that it would understandably not boast a large amount of wildlife. However, Europe lies in one of the most diverse bio-geographic realms in the world - the Palearctic. The extensive Palearctic realm covers all of Europe, a massive portion of Asia and North Africa. As a result of this, Europe oftentimes gets to benefit from the diverse wildlife that these other regions have as well. Animals are not hampered by political boundaries, so many of them that can be found in North Africa and Asia can also be found in Europe. This is even much more evident when it comes to birds, since most of them are capable of migrating considerably long distances with relative ease.

There are hundreds of bird species that can be found in Europe but we've cut down this number to a manageable 40. From the quail that were craved by royalty to the eagles that are present on so many coats of arms, this quiz has some of the most notable European birds of all time. So are you ready to take flight? Then let's soar right into this high-flying quiz!

Rock dove

Wiki Commons By Charles J Sharp

The domestic form of which of these birds can be found living in cities all over the world?

Rock dove

The rock dove (also known as the rock pigeon) is an enduring and extremely common bird that is native to Europe (and parts of Asia and Africa) with over 20 million living in the continent. The domestic form (which was first domesticated thousands of years ago) is now considered to be a separate subspecies.

Horned screamer

Greater rhea

Common moorhen

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Little grebe

Wiki Commons By Laitche

Which aquatic bird is the smallest of its kind in Europe?

Chestnut woodpecker

Little grebe

The little grebe is an aquatic bird that can be found throughout Europe, usually making its home around freshwater lakes. It is notable for being the smallest species of grebe that is native to Europe.

Black grouse

Lettered aracari

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Boreal owl

Wiki Commons By Greg Schechter

What is the name of the nocturnal European bird that is extremely shy and evasive?

Frilled coquette

Spanish imperial eagle

Boreal owl

The boreal owl is a relatively small species of nocturnal bird that feeds primarily on small mammals and insects. As its name suggests, it can usually be found in subarctic regions across the world.

Rufous nightjar

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Eurasian bittern

Wiki Commons By Richard Crossley

This aptly named water bird can be found throughout much of Europe and Asia, what is its name?

Great bustard

Barn swallow

Collared gnatwren

Eurasian bittern

The Eurasian bittern is a water bird that currently ranks as one of the most threatened species of bird in the UK. As its name suggests, its primary breeding grounds can be found in both Europe and Asia (and parts of North Africa); however, there is another subspecies that can be found in Southern Africa.

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Balearic shearwater

Wiki Commons By Richard Crossley

Do you know the name of the endangered bird that shares its name with a group of Spanish islands in the Mediterranean?

Gray tinamou

Griffon vulture

Balearic shearwater

The Balearic shearwater's name is a direct reference to its primary breeding ground, the Balearic islands that lie off the coast of mainland Spain. It is now classified as critically endangered, largely due to urbanization and the effects of tourism.

White-naped seedeater

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Carrion crow

Wiki Commons By Richard Bartz

Which scavenger is considered to be one of the most intelligent birds in Europe?

Long-winged harrier

Carrion crow

As its name suggests, the carrion crow feeds primarily on carrion - the decaying flesh of long-dead animals. However, they can also be seen hunting small mammals and insects, as well as also scavenging through urban waste.

Greater flamingo

Mantled hawk

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Tawny owl

Wiki Commons By K.-M. Hansche

What is the name of the nocturnal European bird that makes it home in tree hollows?

Tawny owl

The tawny owl is a bird of prey; feeding on small mammal, beetles, earthworms and even smaller birds. In European cultures, this bird was historically viewed as an omen of negative occurrences or bad luck.

Black-tailed trogon

Burrowing owl

Water rail

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Northern goshawk

Wiki Commons By Gillfoto

The region of Azores in Portugal features which predatory bird on its flag?

Northern goshawk

Historically, the northern goshawk was one of the more prominent European birds that was used for falconry. It can not only be found in Europe but also across much of the northern reaches of Asia and North America.

Long-billed woodcreeper

Pectoral sparrow

European nightjar

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Grey heron

Wiki Commons By Andreas Eichler

Bennu, a deity from ancient Egypt, was often depicted as what type of water bird?

Pink-footed goose

Spot-billed toucanet

Scaly-breasted wren

Gray heron

The gray heron is most often seen around water where it feeds on aquatic animals; such as amphibians, fish, insects and even ducklings. It is usually found in the more temperate parts of Europe; however it can sometimes be seen traveling to the northern reaches of Scandinavia to breed.

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Eurasian spoonbill

Wiki Commons By Andreas Trepte

Which European water bird gets its name from the utensil-like shape of its beak?

Eurasian spoonbill

The Eurasian spoonbill is a common sight in many European wetlands; however, it can also be found in North Africa and as far east as Japan. The shape of its bill also caused it to historically be known as the "shovelard" in England.

Tepui brushfinch

Grassland sparrow

Little egret

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European turtle dove

Wiki Commons By Ron Knight

Over two million birds of this species are shot each year in Mediterranean countries, what is its name?

Blackpoll warbler

Black-throated loon

European turtle dove

While it can be more commonly seen in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, the European turtle dove frequently migrates to southern Africa during the winter months. A scarcity of its preferred food sources and excessive hunting have both led to a drastic decrease in its population.

Unicolored blackbird

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Common cuckoo

Wiki Commons By Dr. Raju Kasambe

What is then name of the commonplace European bird that lays its eggs in the nests of other birds?

Black-necked stilt

Common cuckoo

The common cuckoo spends the summer months in Europe and the upper reaches of Asia, while during the winter it can be found in Southern Africa and Southeast Asia. It chooses to lay its eggs in nests that are being tended to by other birds, such as reed warblers and dunnocks.

European shag

Slender antbird

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Grey-headed woodpecker

Wiki Commons By TonyCastro

Ants are a major part of which small European bird's diet?

King eider

Two-banded plover

Grey-headed woodpecker

Gray-headed woodpecker

The gray-headed woodpecker is a species of small bird whose diet consists mainly of ants. It is closely related to two other woodpeckers that are found in Europe; the Iberian green woodpecker and the European green woodpecker.

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Red-legged partridge

Wiki Commons By Airwolfhound

Although this fat European bird can fly, it more often than not prefers to run. What is its name?

Sooty-capped hermit

Red-legged partridge

Throughout history, the red-legged partridge has been bred in Europe as a game bird. While its cousin the gray partridge is commonly referred to as the English partridge, the red-legged partridge is commonly referred to as the French partridge.

Goldcrest

Pale-winged trumpeter

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Spotted nutcracker

Wiki Commons By MurrayBHenson

This bird gets its name from the way that it breaks apart its food. What is its name?

Spotted nutcracker

Only three species of nutcracker exist, and the spotted nutcracker is the only one that can be found in Europe. It is also referred to s the Eurasian nutcracker but in many parts of Europe it is simply called "nutcracker."

Black jacobin

White-collared swift

Egyptian vulture

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Rock ptarmigan

Wiki Commons by Alpsdake

Which cold-dwelling European bird has a distinct place in Icelandic cuisine?

Sickle-winged nightjar

Golden eagle

Rock ptarmigan

In Europe, the rock ptarmigan can usually be found in cold mountainous areas (like the Alps) or in subarctic regions. It is a culturally significant bird is some countries outside Europe, being the official bird of several Prefectures in Japan and also being the official game bird of Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada.

Common potoo

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White stork

Wiki Commons By Dr. Raju Kasambe

In European myths, this bird carries young babies to adults who want them, what is its name?

Pheasant cuckoo

Great cormorant

Scaled dove

White stork

The white stork is a common sight in Europe and parts of Western Asia and it has a migratory path that carries it to Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The stork is significant figure in European folklore, with it being said that they would carry babies to parents.

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Mute swan

Wiki Commons By Paul Boxley

What is the name of the European waterbird that will fight to the death to protect its mate and its young?

Mute swan

Although the mute swan is a bird that is native to Europe and parts of Asia and North Africa, its popularity has led to it being introduced in Australia and North America as well. They are known to be very aggressive if they think that their offspring or their mate is being threatened.

Squirrel cuckoo

Crested lark

Lesser nighthawk

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European storm petrel

Wiki Commons By Otter

This island-loving European bird migrates to Southern Africa when it gets cold in Europe, what is its name?

Great dusky swift

Common quail

European storm petrel

The European storm petrel has its primary breeding grounds on islands that lie off the cost of Europe; however, there is a distinct subspecies that can be found on Mediterranean islands as well. It is classified as a seabird and can be seen migrating as far south as Namibia and South Africa.

Sooty barbthroat

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Great cormorant

Wiki Commons By Charles J Sharp

While it is largely European, the population of this bird that is found in New Zealand is known as the "black shag," but what is its formal name?

Lake duck

Western swamphen

Great cormorant

Through history it was heavily hunted by humans, because many fishermen saw it as an adept competitor when it came to catching fish. It is also known is some countries as the large cormorant or the black shag.

Dusky-legged guan

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Golden eagle

Wiki Commons By Rhododendrites

The most common national animal in the world is what species of predatory bird?

Yellow-billed pintail

Corn crake

Golden eagle

The golden eagle is notable for its cultural significance with humans. It has been featured on several coats of arms (Egypt, Iraq, Mexico, etc.) and is considered to be the national animal of at least five countries (Germany, Mexico, Kazakhstan, Albania and Austria).

Masked duck

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Egyptian vulture

Wiki Commons By Dr. Raju Kasambe

Which extremely intelligent species of bird is also known as "pharaoh's chicken"?

Rusty tinamou

European storm petrel

Egyptian vulture

The Egyptian vulture can be found in sections of Mediterranean Europe, Africa, and from Western Asia to South Asia. It is notable for being one of the relatively few species of birds that has been observed using simple tools.

Southern screamer

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Goldcrest

Wiki Commons By Â© Francis C. Franklin / CC-BY-SA-3.0

This small bird was sometimes referred to as the "king of the birds" in Europe, what is its name?

Goldcrest

The range of the goldcrest extends throughout most of temperate Europe and deep into Asia, sometimes visiting as far as Japan. It feeds primarily on small insects and is hunted primarily by birds of prey (like the Eurasian sparrowhawk).

Grassland sparrow

Common waxbill

Mute swan

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King eider

Wiki Commons By Olaf Oliviero Riemer

What it the name of the "regal" European bird that spends most of its time on the water?

Bicolored wren

White stork

Lawrence's thrush

King eider

The king eider is a species of sea bird that can usually be found off the northern coasts of Europe, Asia, and North America. They can oftentimes survive well into their late teens and feed on water-dwelling animals like crabs and mollusks.

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European shag

Wiki Commons By Andreas Trepte

Do you know the name of the dull-colored seabird that is a common sight at British coasts?

Chalk-browed mockingbird

European shag

The European shag is a waterbird that can be found off of the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of Europe. In some areas it is referred to as the common shag and in the UK is is simply called the "shag."

Rock ptarmigan

Slaty thrush

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Black-throated loon

Wiki Commons By Francesco Veronesi

Because it dwells in cold northerly regions, this species is sometimes erroneously referred to as an arctic bird, what is its name?

House sparrow

Black-throated loon

The favored habitat of the black-throated loon (sometimes called the Arctic loon) is freshwater lakes where it can easily feed on crustaceans, fish and insects. Although its is most commonly seen in the northern reaches of Europe and Asia, there have been sighting of notable breeding populations in western Alaska as well.

Spotted nutcracker

Selva cacique

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Little egret

Wiki Commons By Laitche

Which waterbird became almost extinct in Western Europe because it was hunted so that its feathers could be used for decorative purposes?

Little egret

The little egret is not only a fairly common sight in Europe but it is also a resident in the southern reaches of Asia, Africa and a large portion of Australia. They are known for being sociable with other members of their species and feed primarily on crustaceans, amphibians and fish.

Masked yellowthroat

Red-legged partridge

Summer tanager

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European nightjar

Wiki Commons By Gisela gerson lohman-braun

European myths about which nocturnal bird led to it being referred to as the "goatsucker".

Black-faced hawk

Grey-headed woodpecker

European nightjar

The European nightjar's name is a reference to both its nocturnal habits and its relatively dark coloration. It is also sometimes referred to as the Eurasian nightjar or the common goatsucker.

Chaco eagle

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Water rail

Wiki Commons By Rob Zweers

This European waterbird was once threatened by the American mink but still exists in large numbers today. What is its name?

Whistling heron

Common cuckoo

Osprey

Water rail

The water rail is a fairly common European bird that can be found throughout most of the continent, as well as parts of Asia and North Africa. When the American mink was introduced to Europe, several populations of the water rail suffered greatly, but today they have somewhat recovered and the bird is still commonplace in Europe.

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Greater flamingo

Wiki Commons By Tatogra

Do you know the name of the boldly colored European water bird that is the largest member of its family?

Magnificent frigatebird

Short-tailed shearwater

European turtle dove

Greater flamingo

Although the greater flamingo is a much more common sight in Africa and South Asia, there are notable colonies that have been established in Southern Europe. European counties with notable populations of greater flamingos include: Greece, Spain, Turkey, Italy and Albania.

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Griffon vulture

Wiki Commons By Artemy Voikhansky

What is the name of the large scavenger that is suffering in Europe because of poisoned bait left out by humans?

Griffon vulture

The griffon vulture is a large scavenger whose range extends from the Iberian peninsula to the Indian subcontinent. They are capable of living for several decades, with some captive specimens being recorded as having lifespans of over 40 years.

Wood stork

Grey petrel

Eurasian spoonbill

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Great bustard

Wiki Commons By Madhukar B V

Which European grassland-loving bird is currently under severe threat from large-scale farming and deforestation?

Brown bobby

Northern goshawk

Great bustard

Well over half of the great bustards in the world currently reside in the Iberian peninsula. Its conservation status has been classified as vulnerable and this threat has led to the creation of the Great Bustard Memorandum of Understanding among several Central and Eastern European countries.

Great frigatebird

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Pink-footed goose

Wiki Commons By Ken Billington

This waterfowl with stylish "footwear" is a common sight in Iceland and the UK. What is its name?

Pearl kite

Tawny owl

Pink-footed goose

The pink-footed goose is a species of bird that can often be seen breeding in Greenland and far north regions of Europe (such as Iceland and select Norwegian islands). It can also be seen migrating a bit further south to parts of Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands and Britain.

Bare-faced ibis

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Black grouse

Wiki Commons By Vnp

The European gamebird that has a Caucasian cousin goes by what name?

Carrion crow

Black grouse

In Europe, the tail feathers of the black grouse have historically been used as adornments for headgear. While on a global scale the black grouse does not have a worrying conservation status, in Western Europe it is becoming increasingly vulnerable due to excessive predators and habitat loss.

Savanna hawk

Ringed kingfisher

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Spanish imperial eagle

Wiki Commons By Juan Lacruz

Which predatory European bird can only be found on the Iberian peninsula?

Laughing falcon

Balearic shearwater

Orinoco piculet

Spanish imperial eagle

As its name suggests, the Spanish imperial eagle is primarily found in peninsular Spain. However, there are smaller population that exist in Portugal as well. Habitat loss, powerlines, and poisoning have led to the drastic decrease in the population of Spanish imperial eagles and it is now classified as threatened.

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Common moorhen

Wiki Commons By DickDaniels

What is the name of the commonplace European waterbird that can be found in both marshy wetlands and city parks?

Common moorhen

Although it is commonplace in Europe, the common moorhen has an extensive range that also covers large portions of Asia and Africa as well. In some areas is is sometimes referred to as the swamp chicken or simply as the waterhen.

Black caracara

Eurasian bittern

Bat falcon

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Crested lark

Wiki Commons By Charles J Sharp

Do you know the name of the small non-migratory European bird that can also be found in India and Korea?

Monk parakeet

Crested lark

The range of the crested lark extends throughout much of mainland Europe, the Middle East, parts of Africa and in Asia as far east as Korea. While it can sometime be seen feeding on insects, this bird's diet consists primarily of plant matter.

Grey heron

Araripe manakin

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Common quail

Wiki Commons By KaouroV

When the mother of King Edward VI was pregnant with him, she developed a notable craving for which European bird?

Starred wood quail

Little grebe

Speckled chachalaca

Common quail

In some parts of Europe, the common quail is oftentimes referred to as the European quail. Throughout European history, the common quail has been a part of the cuisine of several countries, including Italy, France and Portugal.

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Western swamphen

Wiki Commons By NiveditaE

Which regally colored bird was kept as a decorative bird by the ancient Romans?

Western swamphen

The western swamphen is a species of bird that is notable for being an excellent swimmer but a clumsy flier. It holds the distinction of being one of the few birds that was kept by the Romans but not eaten. Instead, it functioned primarily as a decorative animal.

Eared dove

Boreal owl

Little cuckoo

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Corn crake

Wiki Commons By Ron Knight

Domestic cats are one of the primary predators of which bird that belongs to the "rail" family?

Roraiman nightjar

Corn crake

The corn crake is a species of bird that can be found living throughout a large swath of Europe and eastward into Western Asia. During the northern winter, it can be seen migrating to the southern reaches of Africa.

Rock dove

Chapman's swift

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