Worstbird

Distinctive medium-sized rainforest bird, easily recognized by large, mostly bright cinnamon head and orange bill, whitish underparts, and clean black band completely encircling nape and breast. Inhabits lower and middle levels of tall rainforest, sometimes up to the canopy, where it sits motionless before making sudden flights to bark, foliage, or ground for large insects and small vertebrates. Encountered singly or in pairs, but rather seldom seen due to lethargic behavior. Typically silent during the day; song—given well before first light—is a wild-sounding series of quavering notes that is unlike that of any other bird.

Beautiful and distinctive hummingbird of Polylepis woodpland and adjacent scrub in the high Andes from the Argentina-Bolivia border to Cochabamba. Fairly rare. Male is the only hummingbird in range with a combination of rufous sides, black breast, and green throat. Female can be distinguished from other species of hillstars by her orange underparts.

Chocolate-brown nunlet of mature rainforest. Usually fairly rare within its range; seems to occur mostly in upland ‘terra firme’ rainforest, where it occurs singly or in pairs in the undergrowth. Even-brown plumage and dull-orange patch at base of bill distinguish it from Rufous-capped Nunlet, which has a bright red-orange crown and orange throat and breast. Its song is a slow series of rising whistled “weep” notes, given at a rate of about one note per second.

A small nocturnal species of most wooded habitats including suburban areas and parks. During the day it roosts in tree cavities or dense vegetation. Note that this species comes in two color forms: rust and gray. Both morphs have prominent eyebrows and the facial discs are bordered below and behind by white. The “ears” are not always visible. Occasionally sings during the day. Song is a low tremulous trill, typically growing louder towards the middle and softer towards the end, which is sometimes followed by a low cackle. Pairs sometimes duet; female song is higher-pitched. No similar species within its range.

A small heron that is widespread and common across much of Africa, Asia, and Australia. Notably variable plumage across its range, but small size and overall gray color separates it from most other herons and bitterns. Juvenile streakier below than adult, and is much smaller and more slender, with a thinner, straighter bill, than juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron, with long streaks on the chest and spotting mostly restricted to the wings (though more extensive in African populations). Often but not always solitary, found standing quietly around wetland habitats such as marshes, agricultural fields, rivers, and lakes.