| Synallaxis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Rufous spinetail (Synallaxis unirufa) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Furnariidae |
| Genus: | Synallaxis Vieillot, 1818 |
| Type species | |
| Synallaxis ruficapilla Vieillot, 1819 | |
| Species | |
see list | |
Synallaxis is agenus ofbirds in theovenbird 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 theNeotropical 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.[1]
The genusSynallaxis was introduced in 1818 by the French ornithologistLouis Pierre Vieillot.[2] The name is from theAncient Greeksunallaxis meaning "exchange".[3] Vieillot did not specify atype species but in 1840George Gray designated therufous-capped spinetail.[4][5]
The genus contains 37 species:[6]
| 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 | lowerMarañón River |
 | Great spinetail | Synallaxis hypochondriaca | upper Marañón River |
_Spinetail.jpg) | Chinchipe spinetail | Synallaxis chichipensis | Chinchipe and Maranon river |
 | Necklaced spinetail | Synallaxis stictothorax | Tumbes |
 | Russet-bellied spinetail | Synallaxis zimmeri | western Peru |
_(5771900689).jpg) | Slaty spinetail | Synallaxis brachyura | Central America andTumbes-Chocó-Magdalena |
 | Silvery-throated spinetail | Synallaxis subpudica | Cordillera Oriental (Colombia) |
.jpg) | 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 |
.jpg) | Rufous-breasted spinetail | Synallaxis erythrothorax | southeastern Mexico and norther Central America |
 | Hoary-throated spinetail | Synallaxis kollari | Branco River and tributaries |
 | Blackish-headed spinetail | Synallaxis tithys | Tumbes |
.jpg) | Rusty-headed spinetail | Synallaxis fuscorufa | Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta |
.jpg) | Rufous spinetail | Synallaxis unirufa | northern Andes |
| Black-throated spinetail | Synallaxis castanea | central Venezuelan Coastal Range | |
_(cropped).jpg) | Stripe-breasted spinetail | Synallaxis cinnamomea | mountains of northeastern Colombia and Venezuela ; Trinidad-and-Tobago |
.jpg) | Ruddy spinetail | Synallaxis rutilans | Amazonia |
.jpg) | Chestnut-throated spinetail | Synallaxis cherriei | Amazonia (scattered range) |
Formerly, some authorities also considered the following species as species within the genusSynallaxis:
