Worstbird

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 distinctively plumaged, vocal cotinga. Light gray, with darker gray wings and a black face. Occurs in a variety of forested habitats, preferring swampy areas. Perches upright on branches in the forest canopy, vocalizing more frequently than most other cotingas; listen for its rising, Smooth-billed Ani-like “corree” call with vibrato.

A medium-sized owl with a large, powerful beak and talons. Distinctive and unmistakable. Bushy white crescents begin as eyebrows and run down along the edges of the bill to flare out as mustaches. Note the large orange eyes. Otherwise mostly rufous, blotched and streaked with black. Prefers primary or well-developed secondary forest up to 800 meters of elevation. Vocally poorly known, but a single drawn-out mournful note has been reported.

Brightly-colored swallow found on the Malay Peninsula. Dark iridescent blue above with rusty-orange underparts, rump, and face. Similar to migratory tytleri subspecies of Barn Swallow but lacks its dark blue collar and white tail patches. Like many other swallows, flies over a range of different habitats, from fields to forests; usually in hilly areas.

Fairly small tanager of pine-oak and tropical forest in foothills and highlands of Mexico; endemic. Found mainly in the canopy, usually in pairs or small groups that sometimes join mixed-species feeding flocks. Distinctive male has brilliant red head (with small black mask), greenish upperparts, and yellow underparts. Female is rather drab greenish and yellow overall with dusky gray cheeks. Female looks similar to female Hepatic Tanager but much smaller with smaller, stubbier bill and paler belly. Calls are high twitters similar to Bushtit.