Synallaxis


Synallaxis is a genus of birds in the ovenbird family, Furnariidae. It is one of the most diverse genera in the family and is composed of small birds that inhabit dense undergrowth across tropical and subtropical habitats in the Neotropical region. Some species show contrasting plumage patterns involving rufous crown and wing patches and black throat patches but they are difficult to see as they keep ensconced in vegetation most of the time. Most species show the long graduated tail with pointy feathers that is typical of spinetails. They are also characterized by constructing large domed nests with stick, including a long entrance tube. Some species can be difficult to distinguish from one another on the basis of their plumage, but can be told apart by their vocalizations, which can be quite distinctive.

Taxonomy

The genus Synallaxis was introduced in 1818 by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot. The name is from the Ancient Greek sunallaxis meaning "exchange". Vieillot did not specify a type species but in 1840 George Gray designated the rufous-capped spinetail.
The genus contains 37 species:
ImageScientific nameCommon nameDistribution
Ochre-cheeked spinetailSynallaxis scutataBrazil, eastern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina
Grey-bellied spinetailSynallaxis cinerascenssouthern Brazil, eastern Paraguay,
Uruguay and Selva Misionera
Plain-crowned spinetailSynallaxis gujanensisGuianas, southern Amazonia and Colombia
Araguaia spinetailSynallaxis simoniGoiás
White-lored spinetailSynallaxis albiloraPantanal
Maranon spinetailSynallaxis maranonicalower Marañón River
Great spinetailSynallaxis hypochondriacaupper Marañón River
Chinchipe spinetailSynallaxis chichipensisChinchipe and Maranon river
Necklaced spinetailSynallaxis stictothoraxTumbes
Russet-bellied spinetailSynallaxis zimmeriwestern Peru
Slaty spinetailSynallaxis brachyuraCentral America and Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena
Silvery-throated spinetailSynallaxis subpudicaCordillera Oriental (Colombia)
Red-shouldered spinetailSynallaxis hellmayriCaatinga
Rufous-capped spinetailSynallaxis ruficapillasouthern Atlantic Forest
Bahia spinetailSynallaxis cinereaBahia
Pinto's spinetailSynallaxis infuscataPernambuco forests
-Dusky spinetailSynallaxis moestaeastern Northern Andes
McConnell's spinetailSynallaxis macconnellitepuis and Guiana Shield
Cabanis's spinetailSynallaxis cabanisieastern Central Andes
Cinereous-breasted spinetailSynallaxis hypospodiaCerrado, Caatinga and central Southern Amazonia
Spix's spinetailSynallaxis spixinortheastern Brazil to northeastern Argentina
-Dark-breasted spinetailSynallaxis albigulariswestern Amazonia
Rio Orinoco spinetailSynallaxis beverlyaeVenezuela
Pale-breasted spinetailSynallaxis albescensSouth America
Sooty-fronted spinetailSynallaxis frontaliscentral/eastern South America
Azara's spinetailSynallaxis azaraeAndes
Apurimac spinetailSynallaxis courseniAmpay
White-whiskered spinetailSynallaxis candeinorthern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela
Rufous-breasted spinetailSynallaxis erythrothoraxsoutheastern Mexico and norther Central America
Hoary-throated spinetailSynallaxis kollariBranco River and tributaries
Blackish-headed spinetailSynallaxis tithysTumbes
Rusty-headed spinetailSynallaxis fuscorufaSierra Nevada de Santa Marta
Rufous spinetailSynallaxis unirufanorthern Andes
Black-throated spinetailSynallaxis castaneacentral Venezuelan Coastal Range
Stripe-breasted spinetailSynallaxis cinnamomeamountains of northeastern Colombia and Venezuela ;
Trinidad-and-Tobago
Ruddy spinetailSynallaxis rutilansAmazonia
Chestnut-throated spinetailSynallaxis cherrieiAmazonia

Formerly, some authorities also considered the following species as species within the genus Synallaxis: