Worstbird

A small, pretty member of the pipit family. Note the yellow underparts, the breast band of black streaks, and the scaly brown upperparts. Males and females are similar, but females are duller. The white edges of the tail are conspicuous in weak, fluttering flight. Found on the ground in montane grassland, often in wet areas. Similar to Yellow-throated Longclaw, but there is little overlap in range, and Sharpe’s is separated by being much smaller and having a streaky rather than solid black breast band. Brownish immatures can be confused with pipits, but show some pale yellow below. The song is a series of musical whistles in an up-and-down pattern, given from a perch or in flight. The calls include a sharp “siit” and a longer, metallic “chweee.”

Very local, poorly known, and elusive dove of humid evergreen forest in foothills and mountains of Sierra de Los Tuxtlas, near Catemaco in southern Veracruz. Feeds mainly on the forest floor, walking quickly away or flushing explosively from close range. May be seen beside quiet trails early and late in the day. Heard more often than seen. Note the white face with a black whisker, and blue-gray hindneck and breast.

A strange little understory bird, unmistakable if seen well. Plump and very short-tailed, like a small antpitta or wren. Mostly gray with olive back; most distinctive feature is orange crown. Sexes alike. Found in high-elevation forests from 1500m to treeline, often around bamboo, and always close to the ground. Listen for high, thin calls.

A shrike-like bird of thickets in secondary forest and forest edge, often seen high above the ground. Has a bicolored appearance, being wholly white below and almost entirely iridescent black above except for a white rump, a red eye, and the female’s white lores. Similar to several bicolored shrikelike birds in the region, but note Red-eyed Puffback’s behavior as it perches laterally like a bushshrike, as well as its red eye, hoarse voice, and relatively small bill. Shy but vocal, giving sharp, well spaced “kyew! kyew! kyew!” calls, repeated “reuw, reuw, reuw” calls, and rising trilled calls preceded by quick chatters.

Small bird with thin pointed bill. Upperparts greenish brown, underparts yellow, with heavily streaked cheek patch, dark brown eye, and unpatterned forehead (unlike similar species). Inhabits open forests and woodlands of eastern Australia. Forages for insects mainly in trees and shrubs.