Take Our Common Backyard Birds Song Quiz

Few things are better than waking up in the morning to a flurry of joyful chirps in your backyard. But it’s even better if you can identify the birds by just hearing their song. We’ve created this 10 question quiz to see whether or not you can correctly identify the birds by its song or call. These are the most common birds you’ll likely hear in your backyard, so you won’t get thrown a bird like a Black Oystercatcher that you may have never heard or even seen.

Let us know how you did in the comments.

1. Bird Song #1 — Listen: BirdQuiz1

Which bird do you think it is?

a. Northern Cardinal
b. American Robin
c. Common Redpoll

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a. Northern Cardinal

The Northern Cardinal has many different calls, but a common variation features one or two whistles followed by a long trill.

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2. Bird Song #2 — Listen: BirdQuiz2

Which bird do you think it is?

a. House Sparrow
b. American Goldfinch
c. Black-capped Chickadee

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c. Black-capped Chickadee

Chickadees get their name from their distinctive call that sounds like chick-a-dee. In this call, you can hear three dees at the end, indicating moderate danger.

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 3. Bird Song #3 — Listen: BirdQuiz3

Which bird do you think it is?

a. American Robin
b. House Finch
c. American Goldfinch

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a. American Robin

The American Robin has a string of repeated whistles that are often described as sounding like cheerily, cheer up, cheer up, cheerily, cheer up.

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4. Bird Song #4 — Listen: BirdQuiz4

Which bird do you think it is?

a. Northern Flicker
b. Downy Woodpecker
c. Yellow Warbler

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b. Downy Woodpecker

When excited, Downy Woodpeckers give a squeaky pik call. They also make a high-pitched whinny with several notes in quick succession that get deeper at the end.

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5. Bird Song #5 — Listen: BirdQuiz5

Which bird do you think it is?

a. Common Raven
b. Grackle
c. American Crow

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c. American Crow

Unlike the Common Raven, which has a deep, gurgling call, the caw of the American Crow is much higher pitched. It’s also described as much harsher.

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6. Bird Song #6 — Listen: BirdQuiz6

Which bird do you think it is?

a. House Finch
b. American Goldfinch
c. Hairy Woodpecker

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b. American Goldfinch

The song of the American Goldfinch is a bit difficult to determine. It usually has a long, continuous call that tends to ramble. It’s flight song is most distinctive and sound like po-ta-to-chip.

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7. Bird Song #7 — Listen: BirdQuiz7

Which bird do you think it is?

a. Blue Jay
b. Northern Cardinal
c. Common Grackle

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a. Blue Jay

This is the most common call of the Blue Jay — the jeer. It also has a metallic gurgling sound and can mimic hawks.

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8. Bird Song #8 — Listen: BirdQuiz8

Which bird do you think it is?

a. Mourning Dove
b. Northern Flicker
c. House Sparrow

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c. House Sparrow

House Sparrows have one of the simplest songs to identify. They let out a monotonous cheep or chirrup.

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9. Bird Song #9 — Listen: BirdQuiz9

Which bird do you think it is?

a. Rose-breasted Grosbeak
b. House Finch
c. Mountain Bluebird

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b. House Finch

Here’s a good description of the House Finch song from AllAboutBirds.org: “Male House Finches sing a long, jumbled warbling composed of short notes. The song often ends with an upward or downward slur, and lasts about 3 seconds.”

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10. Bird Song #10 — Listen: BirdQuiz10

Which bird do you think it is?

a. Mourning Dove
b. Pigeon
c. European Starling

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a. Mourning Dove

The Mourning Dove lets out a coo-OO with two or three oos following.

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