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
Synallaxis albescens
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...
