Kruger Birds Quiz: Hornbills, Rollers and the Big Six Birds

This Kruger birds quiz scans the skies and bush of South Africa's best-known park. Play 10 interactive questions on the Big Six birds, the ground hornbill, kori bustard, lappet-faced vulture, martial eagle, saddle-billed stork and Pel's fishing owl, plus the lilac-breasted roller, oxpeckers, summer migrants and how many species have been recorded.

Start Kruger Birds Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Country
Which country is Kruger National Park in?
Count
Roughly how many bird species have been recorded in Kruger?
Six
What is the Big Six in Kruger birding?
Hornbill
Which Big Six bird walks and hunts on the ground?
Heavy
Which Big Six bird is among the heaviest flying birds?
Vulture
Which large vulture is one of the Big Six?
Eagle
Which powerful eagle is one of the Big Six?
Owl
Which Big Six bird hunts fish at night?
Roller
Which colorful bird is a favorite photo subject?
Cleaner
Which birds pick ticks off buffalo and giraffes?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Which country is Kruger National Park in?
Answer: South Africa
It borders Mozambique.
Q2: Roughly how many bird species have been recorded in Kruger?
Answer: More than 500
It is a top birding park.
Q3: What is the Big Six in Kruger birding?
Answer: Six large, sought-after birds
It echoes the Big Five mammals.
Q4: Which Big Six bird walks and hunts on the ground?
Answer: Southern ground hornbill
It has bright red face skin.
Q5: Which Big Six bird is among the heaviest flying birds?
Answer: Kori bustard
Males puff out their necks to display.
Q6: Which large vulture is one of the Big Six?
Answer: Lappet-faced vulture
It has a pink, folded face.
Q7: Which powerful eagle is one of the Big Six?
Answer: Martial eagle
It is Africa's largest eagle.
Q8: Which Big Six bird hunts fish at night?
Answer: Pel's fishing owl
It is ginger and very shy.
Q9: Which colorful bird is a favorite photo subject?
Answer: Lilac-breasted roller
It tumbles in display flights.
Q10: Which birds pick ticks off buffalo and giraffes?
Answer: Oxpeckers
They also feed on wounds.

Bush Birds Beyond the Big Five

Kruger National Park in northeastern South Africa covers almost 20,000 square kilometers and has recorded more than 500 bird species. It was proclaimed a national park in 1926, building on the Sabi Game Reserve of 1898. Birders come in summer, when migrants arrive from Europe and the rest of Africa.

Like the Big Five mammals, Kruger has a Big Six birds: the southern ground hornbill, kori bustard, lappet-faced vulture, martial eagle, saddle-billed stork and Pel's fishing owl. Several are threatened, and the shy, ginger Pel's fishing owl is the hardest to find along rivers.

Easier stars include the lilac-breasted roller, with its many colors, and the red-billed hornbill. Oxpeckers ride on buffalo and giraffes, picking off ticks, while weavers build hanging nests over waterholes. Rest camps often have birdbaths and hides for close views.

What This Quiz Teaches

Birdwatching fans will enjoy these questions.

How many species live there
What the Big Six are
Which birds are rare
Which birds are colorful
How birds help mammals

Did You Know?

Summer rains bring breeding plumage.
Hides overlook rivers and dams.
Ground hornbills live in family groups.
Vultures circle over fresh kills.
Morning drives are best for birding.