Aquatic Birds and Raptors

Question 1

Very contrasting black and white
Blocky front of head
Red eyes
Sits low on water
Feet at the back of its body
Sounds almost like howling coyote

Answer 1

Common loon

Question 2

Bill becomes bluer during breeding season
White and blue bill with black stripe around center
Lobed toes
Smallest grebe
Puffy shape
Feet at the back of its body
No tail, white butt

Answer 2

Pied-billed grebe

Question 3

Small-mid sized grebe
Short, thin bill
Skinny neck
Breeding plumage - its black and brown with an orange eye line that turns into fluffy crests
Non-breeding plumage - it’s white and black with a white cheek

Answer 3

Horned grebe

Question 4

Small head
Short thin bill
Proportionally large and fluffy body
Longer neck than other grebes
Red eyes
Breeding plumage - Red and black, plumage behind eye is yellow and fluffy
Non-breeding plumage- Grey, black, and white. White cheek and back of neck, white/grey underside

Answer 4

Eared grebe

Question 5

Longer and pointier bill than other grebes
Long necks
Upright posture
Black - body, back of neck, most of head
White - underbelly, front of neck, cheek

Answer 5

Western grebe

Question 6

Orange face
Blue eyes
All back body
Medium sized beak ending with a hook
Long tail
Only cormorant in Kansas

Answer 6

Double crested cormorant

Question 7

Giant
All white body
Black primaries and secondaries
Very long beak with a pouch
Short tail
Yellow around eyes

Answer 7

American white pelican

Question 8

Mid sized
Vertical streaks along body
Face blends into beak
Looks like the tall grass it hides in
Funky honking noise

Answer 8

American bittern

Question 9

Tiny
Blue head and back
White stripe on shoulder
Long legs
Hunched posture
Stalks prey
Red or tan body
Eyes forward facing

Answer 9

Least bittern

Question 10

Green head and body
White line down chest
Brown front
Yellow eyes and feet
Black beak
Short neck
Long legs

Answer 10

Green heron

Question 11

Large
Long legs and beak
Orange beak
Darker blue stripe above and behind eyes
Hunched posture, curved neck
Croaky honk sound (annoying)

Answer 11

Great blue heron

Question 12

Yellow bill
All dark legs and feet
White body
Fluffy white display feathers

Answer 12

Great egret

Question 13

Dark bill and legs
Yellow eye ring and feet
Middle size egret
White body
White crest on neck
Fluffy tail

Answer 13

Snowy egret

Question 14

Smallest egret
Thick neck
Peach colored patches on head, chest, and back
Red beak and feet

Answer 14

Cattle egret

Question 15

Mid sized
Stocky, hunched compact
Black - head, back, primaries, secondaries, beak
The rest of the body is grey

Answer 15

Black crowned night heron

Question 16

Yellow crown
White cheek
Big, red eyes
Medium sized legs
Grey neck
Black head
Bulky and somewhat long beak

Answer 16

Yellow crowned night heron

Question 17

Long legs
Long, curved bill
Males - Red and brown body, lavender beak, pink legs
Females - Brown with white beak

Answer 17

White faced ibis

Question 18

Long wings that reach tail tip
Silver undersides of flight feathers
Red, bald head
Flies with wings in V shape

Answer 18

Turkey vulture

Question 19

Extremely long wings
Very hooked beak
Brown “wrists”
Blocky head with black eyestripe
Brown and white mottled body, white mostly underneath, brown mostly on top

Answer 19

Osprey

Question 20

Sleek shape and coloration
Dark, rectangular tail
Slender, agile
Long pointed wings
Grey and white body and wings
Small hooked beak

Answer 20

Mississippi kite

Question 21

Very pronounced “fingers” at wing tips
Massive and stately
White head and tail
Brown body
Yellow feet and beak
Weak, flat, chirping whistle sound

Answer 21

Bald eagle

Question 22

Large brown body
Yellow hooked beak with black tip
Muscular feet
Golden nape feathers

Answer 22

Golden eagle

Question 23

Long broad wings
Long rectangular tail
White rump patch with dark end of tail
Stubby face with yellow eyes
Black top of beak, rest is yellow
Males - Grey with black wing tips
Females - Streaky brown

Answer 23

Northern harrier

Question 24

Accipiter hawk
Dainty legs and feet
Cap all grey
Long black and white striped tail with square edges
Short and rounded wings
Big eyes and small beak
Yellow feet, grey beak

Answer 24

Sharp-shinned hawk

Question 25

Accipiter hawk Rounded tail Large flat head with small, sharply hooked bill Dark cap contrasting grey nape Robust legs and feet Striped peach and white chest Grey wings

Answer 25

Cooper's hawk

Question 26

Buteo Hawk Tail and flight feathers banded black and white Reddish brown breast and belly Round head and hooked beak Brown head Yellow feet

Answer 26

Red-shouldered hawk

Question 27

Buteo hawk Very long pointed wings for a buteo Large Brown hood Can have white face and chin White leg, butt, and underwing Can also be entirely dark brown with no white

Answer 27

Swainson's hawk

Question 28

Buteo hawk Pale chest and belly band Red tail Flight feathers light with dark ends Brown back, white speckled belly Machine like squealing, like how you expect an eagle to sound

Answer 28

Red-tailed hawk

Question 29

Buteo hawk Mottled back/wings brown and white Legs feathered all the way to feet Dark brown on tips of flight feathers and tail Hooked yellow beak

Answer 29

Rough-legged hawk

Question 30

White cheek with bold black bar Big eye, small beak Males - Blue and orange with black speckles Females - Have rufous barred back Shrill kli kli kli noise

Answer 30

American kestrel

Question 31

Medium sized and stocky Black eye line Beak yellow or white with black tip Male - Blue with faint streaks on rufous breast Female - brown with spotted breast

Answer 31

Merlin

Question 32

Large for a falcon Robust, big chest Blue or grey with white belly Yellow eye ring, beak and feet

Answer 32

Peregrine falcon

Question 33

Shy, secretive marsh bird Laterally compressed Bill longer than head Short or no tail Red feet and bill Mid sized Rufous throat and breast Brown body with black or grey mottling Grey head

Answer 33

Virginia rail

Question 34

Upright tail Short, yellow stubby bill Grey/brown body Black in front of eye Thin grey feet White butt Peeping noise, repetitive, robotic sound, Ker-weee noise

Answer 34

Sora

Question 35

Lobed grey feet Tiny tails, short rounded wings Blue head, grey body Stark white bill with red at forehead Honking like a bad kazoo; like buzzing on a reed

Answer 35

American coot

Question 36

Tan grey color Red forehead Med length beak, equal to head Long legs and neck Upright posture Black feet and beak Fluffy tail Loud woody "prehistoric" sounding rattle noise Rolling Brr kind of sound

Answer 36

Sandhill crane

Question 37

Tallest bird in North America All white with black forehead, cheek, and wingtip Long black legs Grey bill, about longer than head

Answer 37

Whooping crane