Worstbird

A distinctive large, plump, short-tailed, long-legged forest bird with a black upperside and white underside, a striking red area on the lower belly, and a conspicuous silvery-blue shoulder patch. Juvenile duller, with buff on underparts. Shy, more often heard than seen. Usually found singly or in pairs in humid lowland and hill forest. Forages on the ground, but while calling often perches high in the understory or canopy. Very vocal; frequently given song is a mournful wolf whistle.

A relatively colorful greenbul with an olive-green back, yellowish underparts, and a rufous tail. Found in the understory and at middle levels of rainforest, usually in small flocks. Readily joins mixed-species flocks, often alongside Icterine Greenbuls. Very similar in appearance to that species and best distinguished by voice, but slightly larger-billed, with less red on the tail and uppertail. The call is a slow series of nasal barking notes, quite different from the faster and higher-pitched series of notes given by Icterine Greenbul.

Unmistakable but very local wading bird with very long, ‘coat-hanger’ neck and very long legs. Adult is hot pink, but 1st-year birds are brown and white overall, attaining fully adult colors in 2-3 years. Usually found in flocks in shallow, saline lagoons. Flamingoes fly in straggling lines, much like geese, and their honking and braying calls can also sound rather like geese. Beware that many people use ‘flamingo’ for Roseate Spoonbill, another (much more widespread) pink wading bird, which other than color is very differently shaped than a flamingo.

A small, sharp-billed warbler-like bird. Note the yellow throat, pale-gray underparts, and narrow white spectacles around the eyes. Found at low elevations, in all habitats with bushes and trees, though especially fond of woodland in valleys. Usually encountered in small, hyperactive flocks. Most common calls include a high-pitched rising rattle and a soft “tew.” Distinctive within its very limited range.

Large, ubiquitous yellow-bellied flycatcher found throughout most of Middle and South America, though tends to be uncommon at the far northern end of its range in the U.S. A classic “telephone wire” bird along roadsides and in towns. Prefers open areas with some trees and water. Most abundant in lowlands and foothills, but ventures up to over 3,000m in some parts of range. Listen for sharp, high-pitched twitters. Nearly identical to Couch’s Kingbird, which overlaps from Texas to Belize; best separated by voice. Larger and longer-billed than Western and Cassin’s Kingbird; also note paler brownish tail. Also very similar to White-throated (longer, forked tail) and Snowy-throated (dark mask) Kingbirds in some parts of South America.