Mystery Bird

How to Play

Find the Mystery Bird of the Day in the fewest questions possible!

• The game pulls real birds seen in your selected county over the last 14 days as reported by eBird.
• Use the dropdowns to ask if the bird has specific traits.
• Use deductive reasoning to narrow down the list and find the answer!

Your Statistics

Bird Colors

Bird colors are based on their primary visible plumage. Keep in mind:

• Dimorphism: Males are often brightly colored, while females are brown or camouflaged.
• Iridescence: Colors like Hummingbird green or Crow black can change depending on the lighting.
• If a bird is mostly gray but has a bright red crest, it will usually be tagged with both "Gray" and "Red".

Wing Shapes

Birds have different kinds of wings for different kinds of flying:

Habitats (Learn More)

Click a habitat to read its Wikipedia page:

• Forests & Woodlands - Dense tree cover.
• Freshwater Wetlands - Marshes, swamps, and bogs.
• Scrub & Shrublands - Dry, bushy terrain.
• Urban & Suburban - Cities, parks, and your backyard.
• Coasts & Shorelines - Beaches and saltwater habitats.

Call & Song Types

Listen to examples of different bird vocalizations:

• Trill/Rattle: A rapid, repeating series of notes.
  Examples: Dark-eyed Junco, Belted Kingfisher
  
• Whistle/Flute: Clear, musical, whistling tones.
  Examples: Western Meadowlark, American Robin
  
• Hoot/Coo: Low, soft, resonant, and breathy sounds.
  Examples: Great Horned Owl, Mourning Dove
  
• Caw/Croak/Honk: Harsh, guttural, or nasal sounds.
  Examples: American Crow, Canada Goose, Mallard
  
• Chirp/Chip/Chatter: Short, sharp, or rapid clicking and squeaking.
  Examples: House Sparrow, Anna's Hummingbird
  
• Complex/Other: Elaborate songs with mimicry, wide pitch ranges, or birds that are mostly silent.
  Examples: Northern Mockingbird, California Thrasher

Note: Ensure audio files are uploaded to your server to hear the examples.

More Birding Resources

Ready to get out there and find these birds? Check out these amazing resources:

• eBird - Track your sightings and see local hotspots.
• Cornell Lab's All About Birds - The ultimate digital field guide.
• Audubon Bird Guide - Excellent trait breakdowns and conservation news.
• Merlin Bird ID App - Identifies birds from your phone microphone!

For questions, concerns, or more information contact [email protected]