Can You Name the Water Bird From a Photo?

By: Jacqueline Samaroo
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Name the Water Bird From a Photo?
Image: Istvan Kadar Photography/Moment/Getty Images

About This Quiz

If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck ... then it must be a water birds quiz!

When you think of birds, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Feathers? Wings? Beaks? Maybe you think of what birds are best known for doing - soaring through the wide-open sky! However, like a lot of other types of animals; like mammals and reptiles, birds share a lot of similarities with each other while still managing to be incredibly diverse at the same time. Some birds (like the ostrich, the emu, and the kiwi) spend their whole lives on the ground, never once getting to experience the freedom of soaring through the sky. On the other end of the spectrum, there are some birds (that both can and can't fly) that love the water. These birds would much rather dive and swim in lakes, rivers and oceans.

In this quiz, we're going to take a look at some of the most common and also some of the most unique water birds that are alive today. Be prepared to see some familiar ones that may live close to home and also some that live on the other side of the world! So get your goggles and flippers and let's dive right in to this quiz!

Emperor penguin
TESSIER Ewan/Moment/Getty Images
This is a picture of which regal water bird?
Emperor penguin
West Indian whistling duck
Little pied cormorant
Short-tailed albatross
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The emperor penguin is a water bird that can only be found in Antarctica, the southernmost and coldest continent in the world. Emperor penguins are notable for being the largest penguin species, in terms of both height and weight.

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Canada goose
Andyworks/E+/Getty Images
Which "Canuck" water bird is showcased in this picture?
Egyptian goose
Galápagos penguin
Canada goose
California gull
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Canada goose is a water bird that is native to North America and parts of Europe. They have effectively adapted to be able to live in human-altered areas; however, they are also one of the most commonly hunted waterfowl in North America.

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Mallard
Adria Photography/Moment/Getty Images
This is an image of which extremely common water bird?
Northern fulmar
Red-footed booby
Bufflehead
Mallard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The mallard is a water bird and species of duck that can be found in every continent in the world except Antarctica. However, it is worth noting that it was actually not native to South America but has since then been introduced to several countries there.

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Caribbean flamingo
© Debi Dalio/Moment/Getty Images
Which long-legged water bird is showcased in this photo?
American white pelican
African penguin
Caribbean flamingo
Ring-billed gull
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Caribbean flamingo is a water bird that is also sometimes referred to as the American flamingo. As its name suggests, it can be found throughout the Caribbean and the northern coast of South America; it is notable for being the only flamingo that is native to North America.

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Brown booby
Patricia Hamilton/Moment/Getty Images
Do you know the name of the tropical-dwelling water bird in this photo?
Red-naped ibis
Brown booby
Little penguin
Hamerkop
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The brown booby is a water bird that can be found in tropical regions of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. They have notable breeding grounds in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico and their diet primarily consists of fish and squid.

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Laysan albatross
Paul McCormick/Stockbyte/Getty Images
Which long-lived water bird is shown here?
Short-tailed albatross
Red-billed tropicbird
Australian pelican
Laysan albatross
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Laysan albatross is a water bird that is named for the Hawaiian island of Laysan, one of its primary breeding colonies. The oldest confirmed wild bird in the world is “Wisdom” (born around 1951 and tagged by scientists in 1956), a wild female Laysan albatross.

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Painted stork
Arun Roisri/Moment/Getty Images
What is the name of the artistic water bird in this photo?
California gull
Painted stork
Great white pelican
Red-naped ibis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The painted stork is a water bird that can be found in the Indian Subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia. They feed primarily on small fish but have been known to eat frogs and snakes as well.

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Mandarin duck
William Goldsmith/Moment/Getty Images
Can you identify the Asian-dwelling water bird in this image?
Mandarin duck
Bufflehead
Mute swan
American white pelican
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The mandarin duck is a water bird that is native to East Asia but also closely related to wood duck of North America. They have been regarded in Chinese culture as a symbol of fidelity and conjugal affection.

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Masked booby
Photo by Victor Ovies Arenas/Moment/Getty Images
Which murderous water bird is in this picture?
Ring-billed gull
Masked booby
Great shearwater
Northern fulmar
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The masked booby is a water bird that can be found on islands in tropical oceans. They notably exhibit siblicide more often than not, where the first chick will kill its smaller, weaker sibling shortly after it hatches.

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Black-necked swan
Images from BarbAnna/Moment Open/Getty Images
Do you know the name of the relatively massive water bird in this picture?
Australian pelican
Little penguin
Egyptian goose
Black-necked swan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The black-necked swan is a water bird that is found primarily in South America. It notably holds the distinction of being the largest waterfowl that is native to the continent.

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Pacific loon
Maureen P Sullivan/Moment Open/Getty Images
Can you identify this icy cold water bird?
Emperor penguin
Pacific loon
Trumpeter swan
West Indian whistling duck
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Pacific loon is a water bird that breeds on the cold tundra lakes of North America and eastern Siberia. They are migratory birds and can often be seen in the United States and Mexico, as well as also in parts of Japan, China and the Korean peninsula.

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Greater flamingo
Feifei Cui-Paoluzzo/Moment/Getty Images
Which relatively huge water bird is in this photo?
Greater flamingo
Canada goose
Dalmatian pelican
Egyptian goose
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The greater flamingo is a water bird that is native to the Indian subcontinent, Africa, parts of southern Europe, and the Middle East. It is notable for being the largest species of flamingo.

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Pacific gull
Jeff R Clow/Moment/Getty Images
Can you identify the "Aussie" water bird in this picture?
Chinese goose
Masked booby
Pacific gull
Great white pelican
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Pacific gull is a water bird that is native to the coasts of Australia. They are relatively plentiful and hardy and as such, they are classified as having a “least concern” conservation status.

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Black storm petrel
Tim Lenz via Wiki Commons
Which small night-loving water bird is in this image?
Caribbean flamingo
Black storm petrel
Amazon kingfisher
Mute swan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The black storm petrel is a water bird that has breeding grounds off of the Pacific coast of California and Mexico. Rats and feral cats have notably reduced their populations of some of their breeding islands.

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Magnificent frigatebird
Maureen P Sullivan/Moment/Getty Images
Can you identify the marvelous water bird in this photo?
Brown booby
Red-footed booby
Magnificent frigatebird
Red-billed tropicbird
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The magnificent frigatebird is a water bird that can be found near the tropical and subtropical waters of the Americas. It is notable for being the largest species of frigatebird in the world.

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Brown pelican
Alan Vernon/Moment/Getty Images
What is the name of the Louisianian water bird in this image?
Laysan albatross
Pacific loon
Chinese goose
Brown pelican
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The brown pelican is a water bird that can be found in North America and the northern coasts of South America. It is the state bird of Louisiana and the national bird of several Caribbean islands; including Barbados, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Martin.

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Amazon kingfisher
Charles J Sharp via Wiki Commons
Do you know the name of the royal-themed water bird in this image?
Painted stork
Black storm petrel
Amazon kingfisher
African penguin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Amazon kingfisher is a water bird that is native to the American tropics. In addition to fish, they also feed on amphibians and insects.

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Chinese goose
Tom Danneman/Moment/Getty Images
What is the name of the domesticated water bird in this picture?
Chinese goose
Painted stork
Pacific gull
Brown pelican
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Chinese goose is a water bird that lays an average of 50 – 60 eggs during each breeding season. It is actually one of the most notable breeds of domesticated goose in the world.

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Dalmatian pelican
Vittorio Ricci - Italy/Moment/Getty Images
Do you know the name of this "ruff" water bird?
Galápagos penguin
Greater flamingo
Mallard
Dalmatian pelican
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Dalmatian pelican is a water bird that can be found in parts of Europe, India, China and Russia. They are notable for being one of the largest freshwater birds in the world (some swans rival them in size) and the largest species of pelican.

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Trumpeter swan
Gail Shotlander/Moment/Getty Images
Which musically talented water bird is showcased here?
Trumpeter swan
Black-necked swan
Magnificent frigatebird
Painted stork
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The trumpeter swan is a water bird that can be found throughout North America. It holds the distinction of being the largest species of waterfowl and also the heaviest bird that is native to North America.

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Little pied cormorant
all images copyright of Jamie Lamb - elusive-images.co.uk/Moment/Getty Images
Can you correctly name this miniscule water bird?
Laysan albatross
Short-tailed albatross
Trumpeter swan
Little pied cormorant
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The little pied cormorant is a water bird that can be primarily found in Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, and Indonesia. Most of its prey consists of animals that are found on the sea floor and as a result it is often seen diving in moderately shallow water.

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Galápagos penguin
Bobby Kelly/Moment/Getty Images
Which notably unique water bird is showcased in this image?
Painted stork
Galápagos penguin
California gull
Dalmatian pelican
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Galápagos penguin is a water bird that, as its name suggests, is native to the Galápagos Islands. It holds the distinction of being the only species of penguin that is found north of the equator.

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Red-footed booby
Jami Tarris/Photodisc/Getty Images
This is a photo of which stylish water bird?
Mandarin duck
Bufflehead
Masked booby
Red-footed booby
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The red-footed booby is a water bird that can be found throughout the tropics. It is known for its distinctive red feet (hence its name) and has a least concern conservation status.

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African penguin
Artie Photography (Artie Ng)/Moment/Getty Images
What is the name of this amusingly eccentric water bird?
Mallard
African penguin
Ring-billed gull
Amazon kingfisher
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The African penguin is a water bird that is found exclusively in the waters at the southern tip of Africa. They are the only species of penguin that is found in the continent and they feed primarily on fish and squid.

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Blue-footed booby
Maureen P Sullivan/Moment/Getty Images
Do you recognize this stylishly attractive water bird?
Blue-footed booby
Bufflehead
Little penguin
Australian pelican
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The blue-footed booby is a water bird that is native to regions of the eastern Pacific Ocean. Their blue feet are actually a sexually selected trait and males use them in a mating ritual with potential mates.

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Red-billed tropicbird
Paul Souders/Photodisc/Getty Images
This is a picture of which hardy and enduring water bird?
Emperor penguin
Australian pelican
Red-billed tropicbird
Magnificent frigatebird
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The red-billed tropicbird is a water bird that can be found across all three of the major oceans in the world: Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian. While introduced rats and cats do oftentimes threaten their nests, overall they have a least concern conservation status.

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Mute swan
Gary Chalker/Moment/Getty Images
Which quiet and serene water bird is showcased in this picture?
Egyptian goose
Canada goose
Mute swan
Black storm petrel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The mute swan is a water bird that can be found throughout Eurasia and minor parts of North Africa – they have also notably been introduced to North America. Their name is a reference to the fact that they are notably less vocal compared to other swan species.

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Great white pelican
shutterstock
This is an image of which outstanding and imposing water bird?
Blue-footed booby
Great white pelican
Northern fulmar
Pacific gull
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The great white pelican is a water bird that is found predominantly in Africa, parts of Asia, and also southeastern Europe. It goes by several other names; including “rosy pelican” and “eastern white pelican”.

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Great shearwater
SoopySue/E+/Getty Images
Which long traveling water bird is showcased in this photo?
Great shearwater
Caribbean flamingo
Red-naped ibis
Greater flamingo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The great shearwater is a water bird that has an extensive native range that encompasses coasts of the Americas and Africa that are washed by the Atlantic. They migratory flights sometimes carry them as far as Ireland and Great Britian.

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West Indian whistling duck
Mike's Birds via Wiki Commons
Do you know the name of the Caribbean dwelling water bird in this photo?
Brown booby
American white pelican
West Indian whistling duck
Pacific loon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The West Indian whistling duck is a water bird that can be found throughout the West Indies, with the most significant population being located in the Bahamas. They are known by several other names; including “Cuban whistling duck” and” black-billed whistling duck”.

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Egyptian goose
Enn Li Photography/Moment/Getty Images
Which historically revered water bird is this?
Trumpeter swan
Egyptian goose
Mute swan
Black-necked swan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Egyptian goose is a water bird that can be found throughout Europe. More specifically, it is primarily found south of the Nile Valley and the Sahara.

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Northern fulmar
Dorit Bar-Zakay/Moment/Getty Images
What is the name of the cold-loving water bird in this photo?
Dalmatian pelican
Great shearwater
Mallard
Northern fulmar
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The northern fulmar is a water bird that makes its home in subarctic regions of the North Pacific and North Atlantic. Its sister species is the southern fulmar, which is found on the coast of Antarctica and the surrounding area.

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American white pelican
Moelyn Photos/Moment/Getty Images
Can you identify the relatively lengthy water bird in this image?
Masked booby
West Indian whistling duck
American white pelican
Mandarin duck
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The American white pelican is a water bird that can be seen living in North America and also parts of South America as well. It is one of the longest birds in North America, with the trumpeter swan rivaling it.

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Red-naped ibis
Chaithanya Krishna Photography/Moment/Getty Images
Which strange little water bird is in this picture?
Amazon kingfisher
Whooper swan
Tundra swan
Red-naped ibis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The red-naped ibis is a water bird that is primarily native to the Indian Subcontinent. While it is technically a water bird, it is notably not as dependent on water compared to similar birds, being found considerable distances away from water sources on several occasions.

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Australian pelican
Steve Daggar Photography/Moment/Getty Images
Do you know the name of the record-holding water bird in this picture?
Brown pelican
Red-billed tropicbird
Australian pelican
Laysan albatross
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Australian pelican is a water bird that can be found in Australia and parts of Oceania. It is notable for having the longest bill of any bird that is currently alive today.

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Little penguin
Boy_Anupong/Moment/Getty Images
Which cute and tiny water bird is in this photo?
Magnificent frigatebird
Chinese goose
Brown booby
Little penguin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The little penguin is a water bird that has been seen in regions of New Zealand, Australia and Chile. As its name would suggest, it is the smallest species of penguin in the world.

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Ring-billed gull
Moelyn Photos/Moment/Getty Images
Can you identify the North American-dwelling water bird in this picture?
Ring-billed gull
Black storm petrel
African penguin
Caribbean flamingo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The ring-billed gull is a water bird that can be found throughout North America (USA, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, etc. ) The name of the species – delawarensis – is a direct reference to the Delaware River.

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Bufflehead
Alan Tunnicliffe Photography/Moment/Getty Images
Which cute and oddly named water bird is in this image?
Pacific gull
Red-footed booby
Bufflehead
Blue-footed booby
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The bufflehead is a species of sea duck that can be found throughout a large portion of the North American mainland. Their English name is a reference to the shape of their head, combining the words “buffalo” and “head”.

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California gull
Dick Daniels (http://carolinabirds.org/) via Wiki Commons/Moment/Getty Images
Can you identify this Golden State-loving water bird?
California gull
Greater flamingo
Galápagos penguin
Canada goose
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The California gull is a water bird that is found primarily along the Pacific coasts of the United States, Mexico and Canada. While its name would suggest otherwise, the California Gull is actually the state bird of Utah.

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Short-tailed albatross
W. Perry Conway/Corbis/Getty Images
What is the name of the scarce but hardy water bird in this image?
Pacific loon
Little pied cormorant
Short-tailed albatross
Emperor penguin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The short-tailed albatross is a water bird that can be found throughout the North Pacific region. Throughout history it actually neared extinction but has since then been moved up to simply having “vulnerable” status.

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Istvan Kadar Photography/Moment/Getty Images