Adapted Nikkor 4/300 or APO telescope for birding?

I've got both. A 100-300mm and an adapted Nikon 300mm f4.5 EDIF. Shooting birds in the woods can be extremely frustrating trying to rely on AF. When birds are on branches, in there's, the AF tends to focus on anything and everything around … not the bird.

These I shot in Central Park using the 100-300mm with a monopod, but focusing manually, no cropping. I hate focus by wire, so bought the Nikon lens, which I also use width a Nikon 2x teleconverter.