Quiz 11: Head feather groups and simple color patterns

This quiz is about taking the feather groups you’ve learned in previous quizzes, and applying them to real birds, to see how color patterns follow the basic feather groups.

And big thanks to Brian E. Small for allowing the use of his superb photographs for the quiz feature here. You can see more at his website and clicking any photo also links there.

Black-and-white head patterns

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Question 1
Loggerhead Shrike, photo copyright Brian Small
A
The malar (or submoustachial) is white.
B
The malar (or submoustachial) is gray.
C
The malar (or submoustachial) is black.
Question 2
Bridled Titmouse, photo copyright Brian Small
A
The supercilium is mostly black.
B
The supercilium is mostly gray.
C
The supercilium is mostly white.
Question 3
Black-and-white Warbler, photo copyright Brian Small
A
The auriculars are mostly black.
B
The auriculars are mostly white.
Question 4
Blackpoll Warbler, photo copyright Brian Small
A
The auriculars are mostly black.
B
The auriculars are mostly gray.
C
The auriculars are mostly white.
Question 5
BONUS QUESTION: On the Loggerhead Shrike, the feathers of the supercilium are:
A
black
B
gray
C
white
D
all of the above
Question 5 Explanation: 
The feather groups are a general guide to color patterns, but some birds have multiple colors within one feather group. In this case black surrounds the eye and tapers back along the lower edge of the supercilium, the part of the supercilium just above the eye is white, and the whole rear part of the supercilium is gray like the crown.
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2 thoughts on “Quiz 11: Head feather groups and simple color patterns”

  1. I find this one quite helpful in helping me apply the “theoretical” knowledge I have about feather groups. It’s not always easy for me to take a description and translate it into a picture, and this helps check that ability. Thanks!

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