Worstbird

A drab olive-brown sparrow-sized songbird with a downcurved bill, dark speckling on the chest, and a small white cheek patch. Juvenile lacks speckling and has pink cheek skin. Noisy groups inhabit lowland habitats, including forest, mangroves, cultivated areas, and scrub. Confined to the eastern Lesser Sundas and the Tanimbar and Kai Islands. Differs from Indonesian Honeyeater in the speckling on the breast and the white facial mark. Calls include a coarse, incessant “tutututututututututu…”, “chup” and “chirrup” notes, and sharp “kwit” calls.

This tiny bird, the only buttonquail in its range, is barely bulkier than a sparrow. Quail-like, it is secretive and terrestrial, scuttling between shrubs; most frequently seen when flushed suddenly at close proximity, flying away on whirring wings. The female has an orange-rufous wash to the breast and face and bright yellow legs, while the male is duller. It inhabits tussock-like restio-dominated fynbos around 50 cm tall, preferring coastal plains but occurring up to 1500 m in altitude. It’s likely nomadic, shifting between patches of suitable post-burn habitat 3–5 years after fire. Its call, given mostly at night, is a low, deep, repeated “oooooooppp”, slower and longer than that of Black-rumped Buttonquail.

Medium-sized hummingbird, distinctive within limited range: overall shimmering green with sharply defined white belly. Wings are browner and rump is coppery. Sexes alike. Found around open forest edges and second growth, usually singly.

Medium-sized wren; strikingly patterned if seen well. Rufous above with complex black-and-white face markings; clean white throat. Some populations have clean rufous flanks, others barred black-and-white. Black cap and nape give it a hooded appearance. Often stays hidden in tangles and thickets at forest edge or second growth, often near water. Difficult to get a clear look at. Listen for loud, ringing song, often given as a duet.

Medium-sized, dark gray bird of tepui highland forest and scrub. Male has blackish back and crown with extensive white spots and streaks on wings and tail; note also grizzled white patch on nape. Female is similar but shows rufous in crown. Found in humid forest understory on tepui slopes, generally above 1000 m. Usually in pairs that forage deliberately at lower and middle levels, hopping between perches and peering about slowly in search of insect prey, like other antshrikes. May join mixed-species flocks. Song is an accelerating series of barking notes ending with an emphasis on the higher-pitched final note, similar to song of Barred Antshrike. Extensive white markings should distinguish this species from other antshrikes, none of which occur at higher elevations in the tepui region.