Worstbird

Small, often rather active little bird of shady forest understory in humid tropical lowlands; often in areas with understory palms. Usually in pairs at middle levels moving with mixed-species flocks that often include Golden-crowned Warbler and Red-crowned Ant-Tanager. Rather drab brownish overall with tawny bushy crest, paler gray face and throat, and piercing pale eye (can be hard to see in the shade). Often gives a twangy, nasal “dwoi-dwoi-dwoi” call and a high, insectlike, whining whistle.

Small, inconspicuous dove of savannas and open grassland with scattered low bushes and palmettos; also found locally in cane fields and pastures. Usually found in pairs or small groups, sometimes associating with other ground doves. Both sexes are rather plain overall, with diagnostic purple marks on the back, although the color is often hard to see. The female can be easily confused with the much commoner Ruddy Ground Dove, which also has a plain breast, but the Ruddy Ground Dove is larger and warmer brown overall; also note vocal differences.

A large, long-legged, long-tailed robin-like bird. The face, breast, wings, and tail are glossy black, while the belly, lower back, and undertail are white. Feeds in the understory and on the ground, frequently raising its tail to reveal reddish-brown vent. Shy and inconspicuous in its wooded habitats, but its presence is often given away by its song, which consists of mellow guttural trills and whistles.

A large starling with a long tail and a strong bill. Body and wings dull brown. Head sooty with a greenish sheen. Pale-tipped wing feathers give a scaled appearance. Most common in lowland forest and coastal vegetation. Polynesian Starling similar but much smaller and paler below with a pale wing panel. Calls include a one-note screech, whistles, rasping, and squeaking. Wings are loud in flight.

Among large gulls it is rather small and delicate with a short bill and a “sweet” round-headed profile. Adults have a prominent black band across the bill. Wingtips are extensively black with little white. Young birds are brown and streaked. Has a rather limited range. Breeds on upland lakes. In winter found along coasts and inland wetlands.

A large kestrel with long pointed wings and tail. The base color is a rich rufous with fine black streaking. In flight, the wings are rufous and black above and pale below. Found around cliffs and other rocky areas within dry savanna, usually in pairs. Similar to Greater Kestrel, but slimmer and more rufous, with rusty rather than gray barring in the tail. The calls are agitated “kree” notes.

A large silver and black cuckoo-dove that shows obvious contrast between the light silver chest, belly, neck, and head and the much darker gray wings and tail. More confined to primary foothill forest than other cuckoo-doves in its range, which are smaller and less robust, lacking the distinctive silver-gray color scheme of Pied. Often betrays its presence with loud and clear calls, often a clear rising “woooow” followed by a more hoarse “whhhow.”

Shy and infrequently seen, rather chunky dove of tropical forests and plantations in the lowlands and foothills. Walks stealthily on the forest floor singly or in pairs. Most often seen as it flushes explosively from underfoot or flies low across a quiet road or trail. Bright ruddy-colored male is distinctive. Female is brown overall with a trace of the male’s facial pattern and has a pale vertical bar on the sides of the breast. Females lack the white tail corners as seen on White-tipped Doves and related species.

A medium-sized brownish owl of montane forests, generally uncommon. Brownish overall with finely patterned underparts. Deep black eyes bracketed by bright white arcs impart a learned, severe expression. Asian counterpart to Europe's Tawny Owl. Calls loudly and slowly, a repeated pair of hoots.

Small, fairly common duck. Brownish at rest with a dark face, but striking in flight with a white inner wing panel contrasting with an iridescent dark green outer wing. Males have an orange bill, blue-gray in females. Encountered on lakes, ponds, rivers, marshy areas, and occasionally in more saline waters.

A rare Hawaiian honeycreeper of native forests above 5,000 feet elevation on Hawaii Island. Appears bigger-headed and shorter-tailed than other honeycreepers. The long, thin upper bill can be hard to see. The stout lower bill is used to hammer like a woodpecker, making an audible tapping sound. Forages for insects on large branches. Male song is a loud, complex warble. Its “Chu-wee” and “Teedle-oo” calls are lower-pitched and louder than those of other honeycreepers.

Small woodpecker of arid habitats, including mesquite scrub and dry woodlands. Look for black-and-white barring on the back, patterned flanks, and buffy wash on the body. Males have a red cap, often raised and fluffy-looking. Often forages on small branches, and sometimes visits bird feeders. Most similar to Nuttall’s Woodpecker, but range barely overlaps. Also compare with Downy Woodpecker, which has clean flanks and lacks bars on the back.

Stocky, rather small, quail-like bird of the Andes. Favors open rocky slopes, stony plains, and adjacent bogs. Found in pairs or small groups. Male has hooting song given from low mounds or fence posts and during display flight. Flight is strong and fast; flushes with loud bleating chatters. Similar Least Seedsnipe is smaller, favors sandier and grassier habitats, and often occurs in lowlands. Note plain gray breast of male Gray-breasted unlike the black Y pattern present on Least Seedsnipe.