Worstbird

A large gray cuckooshrike with a strong, hooked bill. Upperparts are mostly gray with black primaries; male darker than female. Rump and upper tail are paler than back, which is apparent in flight. Male has gray throat and upper breast becoming white in the belly with some gray bars. Female has white underparts with dark gray bars except from the lower belly to the tail. Both sexes have a dark patch from the bill to slightly behind the eye, giving a masked impression. Juvenile is brownish, heavily scaled with whitish-buff, and mottled on the underparts. Immature has broader white edges to wing feathers. Vocal. Call is a two-noted, rather nasal “gii-yaak,” uttered in flight as well as from a perch. Inhabits lightly wooded country, avoiding wet forests.

A medium-sized, dark drongo with a strong bill and a deeply-forked tail with tips curling outwards. Inhabits forests and forest edges, where it hawks for insects under the canopy. Often found in small groups and will flock with other species as well. Calls include tinkling sounds, metallic whistles, and a variety of short harsh notes.

A small streaky bird of open habitats from Patagonian steppe grassland to marshes, agricultural fields, and high Andean bogs; widespread and often common. In much of range the only pipit: note boldly streaked plumage, slender bill, and white sides to tail (best seen in flight). In areas with other pipits, note that Correndera has boldly streaked back, often with paler “braces” and strong blackish streaking on flanks; also note voice. Like other pipits, often sings in flight, high overhead.

A striking medium-sized robin-chat with a slaty gray crown and back separated from the black wings and face mask by a white bar in the shoulder and a white eyebrow, respectively. The throat and breast are white, fading into amber orange on the vent, on the rump, and in the outer tail. Pairs prefer thickets in a variety of woodland types, where they forage secretively on the ground by flicking through leaf litter. They will remain low or sit up on perches to sing their high-pitched melodious song which includes imitations of other species.

Chunky black-and-white bushshrike. There is a white slash across the wing, and the underparts are pure white. Uses habitats that include marsh, gallery forest and woodland, thick scrub, and mangroves. Found in pairs, which usually skulk, but sometimes hop about in the open. Song is a perfectly synchronized duet in which the male gives a hollow rising whistle and the female a low ratchet. Similar to Tropical Boubou, but easily separated by lack of rufous tones to the underparts and different vocalizations.