Worstbird

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.

Fairly common in oak and pine-evergreen forests in foothills and highlands; a few descend in winter to lowlands of west Mexico. Forages mainly at middle to upper levels where often quiet and overlooked easily. Note the bold white wingbars, big white tertial and tail spots, and dark streaks on back. Male flame-orange in west Mexico and deeper orange-red in east Mexico and Central America. Female told from female Western Tanager by gray bill, bolder white wing markings, and streaked back. Calls and song very like Western Tanager.

A large, unmistakable long-tailed dove with an all-dark body and a contrasting cream-colored face. Also displays a red eye-ring and an iridescent emerald green shawl on the nape. Juveniles duller, with a gray face. Inhabits upper levels of forest edge and more open wooded areas in lowlands and hills, where usually found in pairs or singly. Sometimes gives gliding display flights from treetops. Vocal, giving a three-note song: “uk-woo-wooop.” The first note is soft, making it seem like a two-note call; the last note is longest.

Medium-sized chachalaca. Has a rufous crown and speckled throat and breast, contrasting with white underparts. Occurs in wooded areas including second growth, caatinga, and coastal forest, where it forages mostly in trees and occasionally descends to the ground. Usually found in small groups of less than eight individuals. Like other chachalacas, very noisy, emitting a loud rollicking duet “ha-ga-GAA-gogok” repeated continually.

Deep purplish-red broadbill with bold yellow patches on the wings and tail. Broad-based bill and irises are bright blue. Female is slightly duller than the male, and lacks a black line across the chest. Favors riparian and wet forests from the lowlands up into montane areas, and will visit edges, gardens, and parks. Forages in the canopy, often flying from a perch to do so. More vocal than Black-and-yellow Broadbill, giving long, drawn-out whistles and buzzing trills.