Worstbird

Vote for the Worstbird Aug 2025

Rötelhuscher

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.

Angola White-eye

A small, sharp-billed warbler-like bird that is saturated with yellow. Note the yellow underparts, olive-yellow back, and bold white spectacles around the eyes. Found in forest, savanna, scrub, gardens, moist woodland, and plantations, usually in hyperactive flocks that can contain many individuals. Often joins mixed flocks with other small birds. Most common call is a high-pitched rising rattle. Song is a quiet, chatty sequence of “chew” notes. Similar to Pale White-eye, but usually separated by range; shows more yellow above the bill, is more richly-colored overall, and prefers moister habitats. Also similar to Southern Yellow White-eye, and separation and degree of range overlap is poorly understood.

Rostschwanzdrossel

Paler and more orangish than Dusky Thrush. Adult males are the brightest-colored and young females have patchy black on the throat and chest. Note the plain wings without Dusky’s rufous paneling; also note Naumann’s less contrasting head pattern and orange-scaled underparts. Hybrids show a combination of Dusky and Naumann’s features. Naumann’s breeds in taiga and winters in forests and parks; mixes with Dusky on wintering grounds, but less in favor of open habitat. Vocalizations similar to Dusky Thrush.

Schwarznacken-Stelzenläufer

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.

Przewalskikleiber

Adorable inhabitant of subalpine coniferous and mixed forests. Plain white face, extended black cap, and orange underparts are distinctive within its range. Mainly forages along trunks but can often be seen perched out on an exposed branch or treetop. Usually found in pairs or small groups. Follows other species in mixed species feeding flocks. Gives long extended bleats and single crisp notes.