Worstbird

Skulking and generally inconspicuous brown bird of humid tropical forest. Found as singles or pairs, clambering in vine tangles or other dense understory, at times in leaf litter on the forest floor; usually difficult to see clearly. Note the rich buffy throat, conspicuous buffy eyebrow and eyering, and rusty tail on an otherwise plain dark brownish bird. Song is a descending series of nasal notes, speeding up and often sputtering at the end. Occurs from central Panama (where approaches the range of Fawn-throated Foliage-gleaner, and best distinguished by voice) throughout much of northern South America, to central Brazil.

A medium-sized woodpecker of drier forests including palm groves. Its strongly barred back eliminates all other species in it range except for Northern and Fernandina’s Flickers, but both flickers lack the West Indian Woodpecker’s extensively red nape and hind-crown. The barring on the back of the Northern Flicker is also far less pronounced than it is on West Indian Woodpecker. Common vocalizations include a staccato “pee-uh-uh-uh-uh…” with accent on first note, and emphatic bursts of “bluhhh, bluhhh, bluhhh,” with notes that are both harsh and slightly trilled.

Attractive, long-tailed bird found in the high Andes of Peru. Plumage is brown overall with a chestnut crown, speckled throat, and streaked belly. Plumage varies geographically, and birds in southern Peru are much darker below with bolder streaking. Inhabits scrub and woodland with short trees. Vocalizations have a metallic quality; they include a high-pitched trill and a series of sharp chips.

Rare, unobtrusive, and robust forest hawk. Dark above and pale below with gleaming white underwings. Adults of both sexes have a bright yellow bill. Males are gray-faced and females black-faced. Juveniles resemble a miniature Ornate Hawk-Eagle with an orange nape and breast, but are smaller and have bare thighs. Usually found in extensive forests, but occasionally at forest edges and in non-forested areas.

Dark, dumpy bird of the rainforest understory. Males are all black with green bare skin on the head in breeding plumage and black with yellow scaling in non-breeding plumage. Females are olive-green on the back and scaly below. Madagascar endemic that is found in eastern rainforest at low and middle elevations. Sits motionless for long periods, and flies weakly. Usually alone or in pairs, often near fruiting trees. High-pitched call is reminiscent of a dry branch scraping a windowpane. Female is similar to female Schlegel’s Asity, but is separated by range.