How well do you know birds?

[ParathePineapple]

What are the only two poisonous bird species in North America?

One of these is ruffled grouse, unsure of the other

 

[Tetzoo Quizzer]

Ruffed Grouse and Red Warbler

 

[birdsandbats]

Ruffed Grouse and Red Warbler

I guess that's right but I had no idea Red Warblers are poisonous. So you clearly win. The second species I am thinking of was a US endemic.

 

[Tetzoo Quizzer]

In 2008, molecular studies moved a species from it’s old phylogenetic position to a new one, adding a terrestrial insectivore to a famous adaptive radiation. What was this species called before it was moved?

 

[Great Argus]

In 2008, molecular studies moved a species from it’s old phylogenetic position to a new one, adding a terrestrial insectivore to a famous adaptive radiation. What was this species called before it was moved?

Lidth's Ground-Jay?

The second species I am thinking of was a US endemic.

I'm very confused to what this is. My hunch would another of the grouse, but none are endemic to the US.

 

[Tetzoo Quizzer]

Not a ground Jay (although I rather expected this as a suggestion).

 

[Tetzoo Quizzer]

Mind you, Lidth’s Jay is closely related to Eurasian Jay; it is not a Ground Jay. The one being suggested was Hume’s Ground Jay, now known to be a weird tit; I don’t think tits are normally classed as an adaptive radiation.

 

[birdsandbats]

I'm very confused to what this is. My hunch would another of the grouse, but none are endemic to the US.

I'll just say it. Carolina Parakeet.

 

[Tetzoo Quizzer]

With only one attempt at an answer to my question so far, a further clue - another member of the radiation fills the nuthatch niche.

 

[Kakapo]

Maybe the radiation are the vangas, the nutchatch-equivalent is Hypositta corallirostris, and the bird with problematic family placement is Tylas eduardi?

 

[Tetzoo Quizzer]

Vangas, yes, Nuthatch Vanga, yes, but not the terrestrial insectivore (yet).

 

[Tetzoo Quizzer]

Still looking for the bird now known to be a terrestrial vanga.

 

[Platypusboy]

Crossley's vanga?

 

[Tetzoo Quizzer]

That’s the one; a fascinating bird to watch. Over to you to set a question.

 

[Kakapo]

Ah OK, a member of the babbler family

 

[Tetzoo Quizzer]

Ah OK, a member of the babbler family

What one cannot place systematically is an old World Babbler - it reads better in the original German from 1910!

 

[WalkingAgnatha]

Ah OK, a member of the babbler family

Is this really a hot take? The only person who I'd think would refute is Kakapo and he's not exactly the most respected person when it comes to taxonomy...

 

[Platypusboy]

What bird is endemic to a single European island?

 

[Chlidonias]

Ah OK, a member of the babbler family

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/abs/10.1098/rsbl.2008.0444
The species was moved to the vangas in 2008.

 

[carl the birder]

What bird is endemic to a single European island?

corsican nuthatch