Self-study
The most common bird in Stillwater Marsh is a species of marsh hen, yet this species is rarely seen, even by experienced bird-watchers who seek it. ██ █████ ████ ████ ██ ████ ███ ████ ██████████ ████ ███ █████ ████ ██████████ ███ ██████ █████████ █████ ████ ███ ████ ███████ ███ ████ ████ █████████
"Surprising" Phenomenon
Why is the most common bird in the marsh the least commonly spotted?
Objective
The correct answer must fail to explain why this marsh hen is seen less frequently. Every wrong answer will identify a difference between the marsh hen and the other species—such as a difference in appearance, location, or behavior—that explains this discrepancy.
3.
Each of the following, if █████ █████ ██ █████████ ███ ██████████ █████ ███████
a
The coloration of ███ █████ ███ ██████ ██ ████████████ ████ ████ ███ █████ █████ █████ ███ █████ ███ ██████
This explains why these marsh hens are seen less frequently than other species. Because of their special camouflage, they are spotted rarely even though they are common.
b
The marsh hen's ████ ██ █████ ███ ███████████ ███████ ███ █████ ██ ████ █████ █████ █████ ███ ████████ ███ ██████████
This does not explain why this marsh hen is spotted less frequently than other species. A harsh repetitive call would attract attention and make the marsh hen more likely to be spotted, not less.
c
Unlike many small █████ ██████ █████ ████ █████ ███ █████ ██ ███ ██████ ███ █████ ███ ███████ ██████████ █████ ███ ████ ███████ ██ █████
This explains why this marsh hen is seen less frequently than other species. The others move around the banks, making them visible to human visitors, while the marsh hen is stationary and therefore harder to spot.
d
Many marsh birds ███ ████ ██████ ██████ ████████ ██████ ███ ███ █████ ███ ██ ███████ ████ ██████ ██ ██████
This explains why the marsh hen is seen less frequently than other species of birds. It is active at night, when the cover of darkness makes it difficult to see.
e
Although many small █████ █████ ███ ██ ██████ ██ ███████ ███████ █████ ████ ████ ███ █████ ███ █████ ██ ██ ████████ ███ █████ ████ ████ ██ ██ ██ ███████
This explains why the marsh hen is seen less frequently than other species of birds. Other species travel often and in groups, making them more easily sighted by visitors, while the marsh hen is more solitary and sedentary.