Which bird is known for its distinctive red back and melodious song?

Which bird is known for its distinctive red back and melodious song?

• A. Red-backed fairy wren
• B. Great tit
• C. Woodpecker
• D. Shoebill

Answer: (A)

Color and song are powerful clues for identifying birds. The Red-backed Fairy-wren stands out because the males wear a bright red back during breeding and, like many small songbirds, produces a clear, melodious song. The other options don’t combine those two identifying cues: a great tit has distinctive black-and-white facial markings and yellow underparts, not a red back; a woodpecker is more known for drumming and a stout body with different color patterns; a shoebill is a large, gray, bill-heavy bird with little melodic singing. So the red-backed fairy-wren is the best match for a bird famous for its red back and its singing.

Color and song are powerful clues for identifying birds. The Red-backed Fairy-wren stands out because the males wear a bright red back during breeding and, like many small songbirds, produces a clear, melodious song. The other options don’t combine those two identifying cues: a great tit has distinctive black-and-white facial markings and yellow underparts, not a red back; a woodpecker is more known for drumming and a stout body with different color patterns; a shoebill is a large, gray, bill-heavy bird with little melodic singing. So the red-backed fairy-wren is the best match for a bird famous for its red back and its singing.