Just For Fun Avian ID Quiz #12

As always, the “Just for Fun Avian ID Quiz” is brought to you by Jory Langner, our esteemed Avian Quizmaster.  Though, to be honest, after this quiz we aren’t sure how much longer he will be the quizmaster (we think he might have lost it, though we do appreciate the sentiments in the first paragraph below).

First, a statement of appreciation to Mike Bergin, Corey Finger and Charlie Moores, the forces behind 10,000 Birds.  Personally I thank them for the opportunity to post these quizzes.  And a thanks from all of us who are daily readers and contributors to this great blog.  Thanks! [awe, shucks, Jory, you’re making us all blush]

And now on to the quiz.

Once upon a time, in a land not unlike your land, the 10,000 Birds quizmaster sat down to create his weekly quiz.  But it was a special night.  It was a lucky night.  All the stars were in alignment.  The universe was setting itself up to give to the quizmaster a night full of wonder.  A night where everything was perfect; a night for quizzes.  As he sat down, a quiz idea came to him, and he wrote it down.  And he was satisfied.

But before he could rise from his chair, another quiz idea came to him.  He wrote that one down and he was doubly satisfied.

And then another and another and another.  Faster and faster.  More and more quizzes piled up on his desk.  After a while, his pen kept writing on its own, as if guided by a force outside of him.  The pen kept writing: it became hyper and frenzied.  A flurry of quizzes spewed forth, so fast that the quizmaster could not read them all.  Finally, fully exasperated, the quizmaster had had enough, he stood up and said in his strongest voice, his voice of full command “Away hyper pen“.  The pen heard him but tried nonetheless to finish the quiz that it had been writing.  But alas it could not, and in the end, it did as it was told and left.

The quizmaster was both exhausted and exhilirated.  On his table was a large pile of paper, each paper with a quiz upon it.  Many weeks’ worth of quizzes.  He picked up the topmost paper, the partially completed quiz that the pen was writing when he had interrupted it.  He saw that the quiz was there, but not the answer.  Oh no!  What would he do?

The pen had written:

• Nice Forgery
• Earlier Smooch
• Bike Rig Men

The quizmaster, unable to let a quiz go unsolved, tried for weeks to solve the puzzle but was unable to do so.  Today, even as this quiz is getting published, the quizmaster has still not solved the quiz.  But he has made some progress by gathering up some clues, which he shares with you now:

1. It’s something to do with birds, birders, bird blogs, or things avian in nature.
2. There are three phrases, and that is a clue!
3. Each is larger than a crow and smaller than a jumbo jet.
4. None of these can actually fly however.
5. If you are a regular 10,000 Birds reader, you are quite familiar with the solution.
6. Having all three together at one time is a rare event I hear.

Help keep the quizmaster from going insane (too late perhaps?).  Help him solve this puzzle by giving him more clues, easier clues!  But the quizmaster doesn’t like answers, so don’t give away the answer in your comments.  The quizmaster, with your help, will solve this quiz and publish the answer in a few days.

Good Luck!  Away Hyper Pen!

Signed,
Semi Quartz