A frogmouth, a barbet, a minivet, and a redstart sound like they could belong to four different animal groups. They are all the same kind of creature.
🏛️ Must Know
Four Names, One Animal Group: Birds
- Ceylon Frogmouth A grey-brown, nocturnal bird found in the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. Its wide, frog-like mouth gives it the name.
- Coppersmith Barbet A small barbet with a crimson forehead and throat. Its metronomic call sounds like a coppersmith striking metal.
- Gray-chinned Minivet A brightly coloured songbird found from the Himalayas through Southeast Asia, usually in mid-elevation forest.
- White-throated Redstart A small Himalayan bird found across India, Nepal, Bhutan, and China, currently rated Least Concern by the IUCN.
Good to Know
📘 Good to Know
Where UPSC Draws These Names From
- A Familiar Question Style UPSC often lists four unfamiliar species names together and asks what taxonomic group unites them, testing recognition over memorised facts.
- Schedule I Protection Several of these species are listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, in its Birds section.
- Habitat Spread Between them, these four birds span the Western Ghats, the Himalayas, Northeast India, and parts of Southeast Asia.
📝 Previous Year Questions
UPSC CSP 2020 — What Group Do These Four Species Belong To
- UPSC 2020 Ceylon frogmouth, Coppersmith barbet, Gray-chinned minivet, and White-throated redstart are all birds. See UPSC CSP 2020 GS Paper I, Q74. View this question.
Test Yourself
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Great to Know
🌟 Great to Know
Why UPSC Loves Obscure Bird Names
- Tests Real Field Knowledge Questions like this reward candidates who have actually engaged with India’s biodiversity, not just memorised famous species.
- A Recurring Trap Unfamiliar names invite guesses at reptiles or amphibians; the safest strategy is recognising the “-bird-sounding” pattern in bird names.
- Connects to Other PYQ Facts This same “identify the group” format has also tested fish, primates, and detritivores in other UPSC biodiversity questions.
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