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:
Image Scientific name Common name Distribution Ochre-cheeked spinetail Synallaxis scutata Brazil, eastern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina Grey-bellied spinetail Synallaxis cinerascens southern Brazil, eastern Paraguay,Uruguay and Selva Misionera Plain-crowned spinetail Synallaxis gujanensis Guianas, southern Amazonia and Colombia Araguaia spinetail Synallaxis simoni Goiás White-lored spinetail Synallaxis albilora Pantanal Maranon spinetail Synallaxis maranonica lower Marañón River Great spinetail Synallaxis hypochondriaca upper Marañón River Chinchipe spinetail Synallaxis chichipensis Chinchipe and Maranon river Necklaced spinetail Synallaxis stictothorax Tumbes Russet-bellied spinetail Synallaxis zimmeri western Peru Slaty spinetail Synallaxis brachyura Central America and Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena Silvery-throated spinetail Synallaxis subpudica Cordillera Oriental (Colombia) Red-shouldered spinetail Synallaxis hellmayri Caatinga Rufous-capped spinetail Synallaxis ruficapilla southern Atlantic Forest Bahia spinetail Synallaxis cinerea Bahia Pinto's spinetail Synallaxis infuscata Pernambuco forests Dusky spinetail Synallaxis moesta eastern Northern Andes McConnell's spinetail Synallaxis macconnelli tepuis and Guiana Shield Cabanis's spinetail Synallaxis cabanisi eastern Central Andes Cinereous-breasted spinetail Synallaxis hypospodia Cerrado, Caatinga and central Southern Amazonia Spix's spinetail Synallaxis spixi northeastern Brazil to northeastern Argentina Dark-breasted spinetail Synallaxis albigularis western Amazonia Rio Orinoco spinetail Synallaxis beverlyae Venezuela Pale-breasted spinetail Synallaxis albescens South America Sooty-fronted spinetail Synallaxis frontalis central/eastern South America Azara's spinetail Synallaxis azarae Andes Apurimac spinetail Synallaxis courseni Ampay White-whiskered spinetail Synallaxis candei northern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela Rufous-breasted spinetail Synallaxis erythrothorax southeastern Mexico and northern Central America Hoary-throated spinetail Synallaxis kollari Branco River and tributaries Blackish-headed spinetail Synallaxis tithys Tumbes Rusty-headed spinetail Synallaxis fuscorufa Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Rufous spinetail Synallaxis unirufa northern Andes Black-throated spinetail Synallaxis castanea central Venezuelan Coastal Range Stripe-breasted spinetail Synallaxis cinnamomea mountains of northeastern Colombia and Venezuela ; Trinidad-and-Tobago Ruddy spinetail Synallaxis rutilans Amazonia Chestnut-throated spinetail Synallaxis cherriei Amazonia (scattered range)
Formerly, some authorities also considered the following species as species within the genus Synallaxis: White-browed spinetail (as Synallaxis gularis) Chotoy spinetail (as Synallaxis phryganophila) White-bellied spinetail (as Synallaxis propinqua)
References
External links
Synallaxis. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). Synallaxis species. BirdLife International.