Can You Identify All of These European Birds?

By: Jacqueline Samaroo

7 Min Quiz

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!

Wiki Commons By Charles J Sharp

First word rhymes with block. 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. The domestic form of which of these birds can be found living in cities all over the world?

Rock dove

Horned screamer
Greater rhea

Common moorhen

Wiki Commons By Laitche

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

Chestnut woodpecker

Little grebe
Black grouse

Lettered aracari

Wiki Commons By Greg Schechter

Letters spell oral elbow. 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. What is the name of the nocturnal European bird that is extremely shy and evasive?

Frilled coquette

Spanish imperial eagle
Boreal owl

Rufous nightjar

Wiki Commons By Richard Crossley

Letters spell brainiest nature. 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. 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

Wiki Commons By Richard Crossley

Letters spell bacterial shareware. 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. 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

White-naped seedeater

Wiki Commons By Richard Bartz

Second word rhymes with slow. 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. Which scavenger is considered to be one of the most intelligent birds in Europe?

Long-winged harrier

Carrion crow
Greater flamingo

Mantled hawk

Wiki Commons By K.-M. Hansche

First word rhymes with brawny. 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. What is the name of the nocturnal European bird that makes it home in tree hollows?

Tawny owl

Black-tailed trogon
Burrowing owl

Water rail

Wiki Commons By Gillfoto

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

Northern goshawk

Long-billed woodcreeper
Pectoral sparrow

European nightjar

Wiki Commons By Andreas Eichler

Between black and white. 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. 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

Wiki Commons By Andreas Trepte

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

Eurasian spoonbill

Tepui brushfinch
Grassland sparrow

Little egret

Wiki Commons By Ron Knight

Letters spell "a volunteered troupe" 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. 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

Unicolored blackbird

Wiki Commons By Dr. Raju Kasambe

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

Black-necked stilt

Common cuckoo
European shag

Slender antbird

Wiki Commons By TonyCastro

Between black and white. 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. Ants are a major part of which small European bird's diet?

King eider

Two-banded plover
Grey-headed woodpecker

Gray-headed woodpecker

Wiki Commons By Airwolfhound

Primary color. 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. 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
Goldcrest

Pale-winged trumpeter

Wiki Commons By MurrayBHenson

First word rhymes with dotted. 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." This bird gets its name from the way that it breaks apart its food. What is its name?

Spotted nutcracker

Black jacobin
White-collared swift

Egyptian vulture

Wiki Commons by Alpsdake

First word rhymes with sock. 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. Which cold-dwelling European bird has a distinct place in Icelandic cuisine?

Sickle-winged nightjar

Golden eagle
Rock ptarmigan

Common potoo

Wiki Commons By Dr. Raju Kasambe

Opposite of black. 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. 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

Wiki Commons By Paul Boxley

Making no sound. 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. What is the name of the European waterbird that will fight to the death to protect its mate and its young?

Mute swan

Squirrel cuckoo
Crested lark

Lesser nighthawk

Wiki Commons By Otter

Heavy rain. 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. 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

Sooty barbthroat

Wiki Commons By Charles J Sharp

Letters spell garnet motorcar. 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. 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

Dusky-legged guan

Wiki Commons By Rhododendrites

Not bronze or silver. 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). The most common national animal in the world is what species of predatory bird?

Yellow-billed pintail

Corn crake
Golden eagle

Masked duck

Wiki Commons By Dr. Raju Kasambe

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

Rusty tinamou

European storm petrel
Egyptian vulture

Southern screamer

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

Not bronze or silver. 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). This small bird was sometimes referred to as the "king of the birds" in Europe, what is its name?

Goldcrest

Grassland sparrow
Common waxbill

Mute swan

Wiki Commons By Olaf Oliviero Riemer

Opposite of queen. 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. 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

Wiki Commons By Andreas Trepte

Last word rhymes with bag. 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." Do you know the name of the dull-colored seabird that is a common sight at British coasts?

Chalk-browed mockingbird

European shag
Rock ptarmigan

Slaty thrush

Wiki Commons By Francesco Veronesi

Opposite of white. 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. 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
Spotted nutcracker

Selva cacique

Wiki Commons By Laitche

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

Little egret

Masked yellowthroat
Red-legged partridge

Summer tanager

Wiki Commons By Gisela gerson lohman-braun

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

Black-faced hawk

Grey-headed woodpecker
European nightjar

Chaco eagle

Wiki Commons By Rob Zweers

Letters spell retail war. 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. 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

Wiki Commons By Tatogra

Opposite of lesser. 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. 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

Wiki Commons By Artemy Voikhansky

Letters spell fruitful govern. 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. What is the name of the large scavenger that is suffering in Europe because of poisoned bait left out by humans?

Griffon vulture

Wood stork
Grey petrel

Eurasian spoonbill

Wiki Commons By Madhukar B V

Second word rhymes with mustard. 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. Which European grassland-loving bird is currently under severe threat from large-scale farming and deforestation?

Brown bobby

Northern goshawk
Great bustard

Great frigatebird

Wiki Commons By Ken Billington

Shade of red. 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. 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

Bare-faced ibis

Wiki Commons By Vnp

Opposite of white. 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. The European gamebird that has a Caucasian cousin goes by what name?

Carrion crow

Black grouse
Savanna hawk

Ringed kingfisher

Wiki Commons By Juan Lacruz

First word rhymes with vanish. 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. Which predatory European bird can only be found on the Iberian peninsula?

Laughing falcon

Balearic shearwater
Orinoco piculet

Spanish imperial eagle

Wiki Commons By DickDaniels

Letters spell mom con hormone. 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. What is the name of the commonplace European waterbird that can be found in both marshy wetlands and city parks?

Common moorhen

Black caracara
Eurasian bittern

Bat falcon

Wiki Commons By Charles J Sharp

First word rhymes with bested. 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. 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
Grey heron

Araripe manakin

Wiki Commons By KaouroV

Opposite of rare. 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. 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

Wiki Commons By NiveditaE

Opposite of eastern. 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. Which regally colored bird was kept as a decorative bird by the ancient Romans?

Western swamphen

Eared dove
Boreal owl

Little cuckoo

Wiki Commons By Ron Knight

First word rhymes with horn. 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. Domestic cats are one of the primary predators of which bird that belongs to the "rail" family?

Roraiman nightjar

Corn crake
Rock dove

Chapman's swift

6 Minute Quiz 6 Min

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