Worstbird

Elegant shorebird with exceptionally long, bright pink legs. Distinctive black-and-white plumage and thin black bill. Male is glossier black above, female is slightly browner. Some variation across range: darker neck in Hawaii; whiter crown and more extensive white collar in southern South America. Widespread and fairly common throughout the Americas, although rare or absent from much of the eastern U.S. Usually seen in pairs or small flocks, foraging in shallow ponds or marshes.

Minute woodpecker of lowland and foothill forests, where it forages in areas with dense low vegetation at the lower and middle levels. Predominantly rusty orange, with an olive-green crown and wings and a small but bright white eyebrow; the very similar Rufous Piculet lacks a pale brow. Male White-broweds have a bright yellow patch on the forehead which females lack. Often solitary, but can be found in small flocks and mixed-species foraging groups. Gives an explosive, squeaky, often descending chatter and sharp “chip” notes.

Rare flycatcher found in seasonally flooded swamp forest in lowlands east of the Andes. Pale eye, wide bill, buffy throat and breast, gray crown, and lack of facial markings help separate it from similar species such as Gray-crowned Flycatcher. It is typically seen quite high in the trees, but usually not in the forest canopy. Song is a series of emphatic, raspy squeaks.

Large honeyeater found in wetter forested habitats in New Guinea and northern Cape York. Dark brown above, paler buff-brown below, with gray neck and face. Black bill fairly long and decurved. White gape line curves beneath eye and onto cheek. In addition to eating nectar, this species also searches bark for insects.

Small bird of open arid shrubland and grasslands. Pale brown above, whitish below, with distinct pale supercilium, faint chest streaking, and long, cocked tail. Forages quietly on the ground or in thick vegetation, where difficult to see. Most easily observed when males sing in spring, as they perch up in the vegetation. Similar to Western Fieldwren but no range overlap. Compare Shy Heathwren, which has a white wing spot and darker legs.

Brightly-colored yuhina with a bright orange patch on the back of the crest. Brown wings, orange vent, and gray head. Similar to Whiskered and Stripe-throated Yuhinas, but without Whiskered’s prominent white throat and dark forecrest, and without Stripe-throated’s all-brown crest. Inhabits broadleaf forests at middle to high elevations, preferring oak stands with a dense rhododendron understory. Gives soft high-pitched twitters.

Small, plain bird found at high elevations in the eastern Andes in northern Peru. Adult male is dark gray, often looking black in the field. Females and young birds are browner, especially on the lower underparts. Similar to Large-footed Tapaculo, but smaller and has a different voice. Gives low-pitched, froglike notes either in a steady series or in shorter, faster bursts. Inhabits understory of elfin cloud forest, often near tree line, and stays low where it is hard to see.

An elongated, metallic-green-black bird with red feet and a long, decurved, red-orange bill. Juveniles have dark bills but are often in the company of adults. It flies heavily, with the long floppy, white-tipped tail dangling behind. Pairs and groups of up to 14 birds are highly social, occupying savanna, woodland, riverine forest, and gardens, where they nest and roost in natural cavities. Clambers in trees, probing bark and crevices for insects and small vertebrates. They communicate using a strong cackling chatter that sounds maniacal. The almost identical Grant’s and Violet woodhoopoes (with which it sometimes hybridizes) differ from Green Woodhoopoe only by having a coppery-purple (not glossy greenish) metallic sheen.

Uncommon endemic thrush breeding in montane forests (1000-2500 m). Male is striking: black with an orange belly and a snow-white head. Female browner, with a brown-and-white-mottled head. Descends into foothills and even lowlands during the winter, when it may mix with other thrush species. Male gives a melodic whistled song from the canopy.

Small brownish wren found only on St. Lucia. Drab brown above and white below, with a faint eyebrow, and dark barring on the wings and tail. Generally more arboreal than mainland “House Wrens”, occurring in dense brushy woodland throughout the island. Often perches conspicuously when singing, but otherwise fairly secretive. Listen for loud song of chatters and clearer trills, as well as harsh scolding calls.

Small, skulking wren of vine tangles and thickets in tropical lowlands. Like most wrens, heard far more often than seen. Rollicking, ‘happy,’ whistled song is a duet between male and female, keeping them in touch with each other. Rising call note sounds like a finger run along a comb. Plumage is rich rusty brown overall, with white eyebrow and dense black spotting on whitish breast.

Mid-sized gray hornbill with a white belly and horn-colored bill. The white tail corners are conspicuous in floppy flight. The sexes are similar, though males have a larger casque on top of the bill. Generally uncommon in miombo woodland. Usually in pairs or small groups. Similar to African Gray Hornbill, but has less contrasting overall coloration, and an entirely pale rather than mostly dark bill.

The smallest wood-rail with a white throat and a rusty breast and belly. Note the green bill with a red base. Found in mangroves, swamps, and lagoons along the coast, but also migrates to interior dry-land areas to breed. Similar to Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail, which only occurs in woodlands and has a gray (not rusty) breast. Told from Gray-cowled Wood-Rail by its white throat rather than the gray throat seen on Gray-cowled Wood-Rail.

A large, bulky eagle of forested hills. The small head, immensely broad wings, and large, often fanned-out tail give this bird the silhouette of a hawk on steroids when in flight. When perched, the thin upright crest separates this species from any hawk. Adults are dark brown above with thick brown bars on the belly and vertical black streaks on the throat. Juveniles are paler below, with brown upperparts showing neat pale-edge feathers and mostly pale head, lightly stippled or streaked with brown.