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Ovenbird (family)
Encyclopedia
Ovenbirds or furnariids are a large family of small suboscine passerine
birds found in Mexico
, and Central
and South America
. They form the family Furnariidae. The Ovenbird
(Seiurus aurocapillus), which breeds in North America, is a distantly related bird, a wood warbler
(family Parulidae).
s which get their name from the elaborate, vaguely "oven-like" clay nests built by the hornero
s, although most other ovenbirds build stick nests or nest in tunnels or clefts in rock. The Spanish
word for "oven" (horno) gives the hornero
s their name. Furnariid nests are always constructed with a cover, and up to six pale blue, greenish or white egg
s are laid. The eggs hatch after between 15 and 22 days, and the young fledge after a further 13 to 20 days.
They are small to medium-sized birds, ranging from 9 to 35 centimetres in length. While individial species often are habitat specialists, species of this family can be found in virtually any Neotropical habitat, ranging from city parks inhabited by Rufous Hornero
s, to tropical Amazonian
lowlands by many species of Foliage-gleaners, to temperate barren Andean highlands inhabited by several species of miners
. There are even two species, the Seaside
and the Surf Cinclodes
, which are associated with rocky coasts.
s (formerly Dendrocolaptidae) were merged into this family, following analysis of mtDNA cytochrome b
and several nDNA sequence
s (Irestedt et al. 2002). Moyle et al. (2009), while confirming the overall phylogenetic pattern, instead opted for maintaining the woodcreepers as a separate family, while splitting the ovenbirds (as traditionally defined) into two families, Furnariidae and Scleruridae.
The systematics of the Dendrocolaptinae were reviewed by Raikow (1994) based on morphology and by Irestedt et al. (2004) based on analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. Using the latter approach, the suspected major lineages of the Furnariinae (foliage-gleaners, spinetails, and true ovenbirds) were confirmed, but some new lineages were discovered and the relationships of several genera had to be revised (Fjeldså et al., 2005).
The taxonomic arrangement presented below is based on recent studies of ovenbird relationships (Irestedt et al. 2006, Chesser et al. 2007, Moyle et al. 2009). However, because ovenbirds and woodcreepers are treated here as a single family some taxonomic rank
s were modified.
Subfamily: Sclerurinae - Miners and leaftossers
Subfamily: Dendrocolaptinae - Woodcreepers
For a complete listing of species, see the subfamily article.
Subfamily: Furnariinae - Neotropical ovenbirds and allies
Passerine
A passerine is a bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds or, less accurately, as songbirds, the passerines form one of the most diverse terrestrial vertebrate orders: with over 5,000 identified species, it has roughly...
birds found in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and Central
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. They form the family Furnariidae. The Ovenbird
Ovenbird
The Ovenbird is a small songbird of the New World warbler family . This migratory bird breeds in eastern North America and moves south in winter.-Taxonomy:...
(Seiurus aurocapillus), which breeds in North America, is a distantly related bird, a wood warbler
New World warbler
The New World warblers or wood-warblers are a group of small, often colorful, passerine birds restricted to the New World. They are not related to the Old World warblers or the Australian warblers....
(family Parulidae).
Description
The ovenbirds are a diverse group of insectivoreInsectivore
An insectivore is a type of carnivore with a diet that consists chiefly of insects and similar small creatures. An alternate term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of eating insects....
s which get their name from the elaborate, vaguely "oven-like" clay nests built by the hornero
Hornero
The horneros are members of the genus Furnarius in the family Furnariidae, native to South America.Horneros are brown birds with rather short tails and fairly long bills. They are known for building mud nests that resemble old wood-fired ovens...
s, although most other ovenbirds build stick nests or nest in tunnels or clefts in rock. The Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
word for "oven" (horno) gives the hornero
Hornero
The horneros are members of the genus Furnarius in the family Furnariidae, native to South America.Horneros are brown birds with rather short tails and fairly long bills. They are known for building mud nests that resemble old wood-fired ovens...
s their name. Furnariid nests are always constructed with a cover, and up to six pale blue, greenish or white egg
Egg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
s are laid. The eggs hatch after between 15 and 22 days, and the young fledge after a further 13 to 20 days.
They are small to medium-sized birds, ranging from 9 to 35 centimetres in length. While individial species often are habitat specialists, species of this family can be found in virtually any Neotropical habitat, ranging from city parks inhabited by Rufous Hornero
Rufous Hornero
The Rufous Hornero, Furnarius rufus, is a large ovenbird from eastern South America. Also known as the Red Ovenbird, it is a common species of second-growth scrub, pastures and agricultural land, and the species is often seen near areas of human inhabitation...
s, to tropical Amazonian
Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest , also known in English as Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle, is a moist broadleaf forest that covers most of the Amazon Basin of South America...
lowlands by many species of Foliage-gleaners, to temperate barren Andean highlands inhabited by several species of miners
Geositta
Geositta is a genus of passerine birds in the ovenbird family, Furnariidae. They are known as miners due to the tunnels they dig for nesting. There are 11 species including the Campo Miner which was formerly classified in a genus of its own, Geobates...
. There are even two species, the Seaside
Seaside Cinclodes
The Chilean Seaside Cinclodes is a species of bird in the Furnariidae family. It is endemic to rocky shorelines in Chile. It often includes the Peruvian Seaside Cinclodes as a subspecies.-References:...
and the Surf Cinclodes
Surf Cinclodes
The Peruvian Seaside Cinclodes or Surf Cinclodes is a species of bird in the Furnariidae family. It is endemic to rocky shorelines in Peru. It is often considered a subspecies of the Seaside Cinclodes.-References:...
, which are associated with rocky coasts.
Systematics
Recently, the woodcreeperWoodcreeper
The woodcreepers comprise a subfamily of sub-oscine passerine birds endemic to the Neotropics. They have traditionally been considered a distinct family Dendrocolaptidae, but most authorities now place them as a subfamily of the ovenbirds...
s (formerly Dendrocolaptidae) were merged into this family, following analysis of mtDNA cytochrome b
Cytochrome b
Cytochrome b/b6 is the main subunit of transmembrane cytochrome bc1 and b6f complexes. In addition, it commonly refers to a region of mtDNA used for population genetics and phylogenetics.- Function :...
and several nDNA sequence
DNA sequence
The sequence or primary structure of a nucleic acid is the composition of atoms that make up the nucleic acid and the chemical bonds that bond those atoms. Because nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, are unbranched polymers, this specification is equivalent to specifying the sequence of...
s (Irestedt et al. 2002). Moyle et al. (2009), while confirming the overall phylogenetic pattern, instead opted for maintaining the woodcreepers as a separate family, while splitting the ovenbirds (as traditionally defined) into two families, Furnariidae and Scleruridae.
The systematics of the Dendrocolaptinae were reviewed by Raikow (1994) based on morphology and by Irestedt et al. (2004) based on analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. Using the latter approach, the suspected major lineages of the Furnariinae (foliage-gleaners, spinetails, and true ovenbirds) were confirmed, but some new lineages were discovered and the relationships of several genera had to be revised (Fjeldså et al., 2005).
The taxonomic arrangement presented below is based on recent studies of ovenbird relationships (Irestedt et al. 2006, Chesser et al. 2007, Moyle et al. 2009). However, because ovenbirds and woodcreepers are treated here as a single family some taxonomic rank
Taxonomic rank
In biological classification, rank is the level in a taxonomic hierarchy. Examples of taxonomic ranks are species, genus, family, and class. Each rank subsumes under it a number of less general categories...
s were modified.
Subfamily: Sclerurinae - Miners and leaftossers
-
- Genus GeosittaGeosittaGeositta is a genus of passerine birds in the ovenbird family, Furnariidae. They are known as miners due to the tunnels they dig for nesting. There are 11 species including the Campo Miner which was formerly classified in a genus of its own, Geobates...
- miners (11 species) - Genus SclerurusSclerurusSclerurus is a bird genus in the ovenbird family, Furnariidae. Members of this genus are commonly known as leaftossers or leafscrapers, and are found in Mexico, Central America and South America. They are close relatives of the miners , which are essentially an open-country version of the...
- leaftossers (5 species)
- Genus Geositta
Subfamily: Dendrocolaptinae - Woodcreepers
For a complete listing of species, see the subfamily article.
- Tribe: Sittasomini - "intermediate" woodcreepers
- Genus DendrocinclaDendrocinclaDendrocincla is a genus of bird in the woodcreeper subfamily . It contains the following species:* Tyrannine Woodcreeper, Dendrocincla tyrannina* Thrush-like Woodcreeper, Dendrocincla turdina...
- woodcreepers (6 species) - Genus Deconychura - long-tailed woodcreeper
- Genus Sittasomus - olivaceous woodcreeper
- Genus Certhiasomus - spot-throated woodcreeper (recently described for Deconychura stictolaema)
- Genus Dendrocincla
- Tribe: Dendrocolaptini - "strong-billed" woodcreepers
- Genus Glyphorynchus - wedge-billed woodcreeper
- Genus Nasica - long-billed woodcreeper
- Genus Dendrexetastes - cinnamon-throated woodcreeper
- Genus DendrocolaptesDendrocolaptesDendrocolaptes is a genus of bird in the Dendrocolaptinae subfamily.It contains the following species:* Amazonian Barred-woodcreeper * Hoffmanns's Woodcreeper...
- woodcreepers (5 species) - Genus HylexetastesHylexetastesHylexetastes is a genus of bird in the Dendrocolaptinae subfamily.It contains the following species:* Red-billed Woodcreeper ** Brigida's Woodcreeper...
- woodcreepers (2-4 species) - Genus XiphocolaptesXiphocolaptesXiphocolaptes is a genus of bird in the Dendrocolaptinae subfamily.It contains the following species:* Strong-billed Woodcreeper * White-throated Woodcreeper...
- woodcreepers (4 species) - Genus DendroplexDendroplexDendroplex is a genus of bird in the woodcreeper subfamily . It was long merged into Xiphorhynchus, but its distinctness was recently validated.It contains the following species:* Straight-billed Woodcreeper, Dendroplex picus...
- straight-billed woodcreepers (2 species, formerly in Xiphorhynchus) - Genus XiphorhynchusXiphorhynchusXiphorhynchus is a genus of bird in the woodcreeper subfamily . Its monophyly requires confirmation.It contains the following species:* Lesser Woodcreeper, Xiphorhynchus fuscus - formerly in Lepidocolaptes...
- woodcreepers (some 15 species, possibly polyphyletic) - Genus LepidocolaptesLepidocolaptesLepidocolaptes is a genus of bird in the Dendrocolaptinae subfamily. These are relatively small woodcreepers with fairly long, thin and slightly decurved bills.-Species:...
- narrow-billed woodcreepers (7 species) - Genus Drymornis - scimitar-billed woodcreeper
- Genus Drymotoxeres - greater scythebill (new genus for Campylorhamphus pucherani)
- Genus CampylorhamphusCampylorhamphusCampylorhamphus, the scythebills, are a bird genus in the woodcreeper subfamily . They are found in wooded habitats in South America and southern Central America, and all have very long, somewhat scythe-shaped bills....
- scythebills (4 species)
Subfamily: Furnariinae - Neotropical ovenbirds and allies
-
- Genus: XenopsXenopsXenops is a genus in the bird family Furnariidae, the ovenbirds. They are found in Mexico, Central America and South America.They are small birds with a longish tail, a laterally flattened bill with an upturned tip , brown back and buff or rufous wing stripe...
- xenops (3 species) - Genus Berlepschia - palmcreepers
- Genus: Xenops
- Tribe Pygarrhichini
- Genus Pygarrhichas - treerunners
- Genus Microxenops - "false xenops"
- Genus OchetorhynchusOchetorhynchusOchetorhynchus is a genus of earthcreepers, birds in the family Furnariidae. They are found in open to semi-open habitats in Chile, Argentina, Bolivia and Peru...
- earthcreepers (2 species formerly included in UpucerthiaUpucerthiaUpucerthia is a genus of bird in the Furnariidae family. They are found in southern and western South America.-Taxononomy:Two additional species, the Rock Earthcreeper and the Straight-billed Earthcreeper, were formerly placed in this genus, but have now been moved to Ochetorhynchus...
) - Genus Eremobius - earthcreepers
- Genus Chilia - chilias
- Tribe Furnariini - HorneroHorneroThe horneros are members of the genus Furnarius in the family Furnariidae, native to South America.Horneros are brown birds with rather short tails and fairly long bills. They are known for building mud nests that resemble old wood-fired ovens...
s and allies- Genus Pseudocolaptes - tuftedcheeks (3 species)
- Genus Premnornis - false barbtails
- Genus TarphonomusTarphonomusTarphonomus is a genus of birds in the family Furnariidae. They are found in shrubby habitats in south-central South America. They were formerly included in the genus Upucerthia. It contains the following species:...
- (new genus for 2 species formerly included in UpucerthiaUpucerthiaUpucerthia is a genus of bird in the Furnariidae family. They are found in southern and western South America.-Taxononomy:Two additional species, the Rock Earthcreeper and the Straight-billed Earthcreeper, were formerly placed in this genus, but have now been moved to Ochetorhynchus...
) - Genus Geocerthia - earthcreepers (recently described for U. serrrana)
- Genus UpucerthiaUpucerthiaUpucerthia is a genus of bird in the Furnariidae family. They are found in southern and western South America.-Taxononomy:Two additional species, the Rock Earthcreeper and the Straight-billed Earthcreeper, were formerly placed in this genus, but have now been moved to Ochetorhynchus...
- earthcreepers (5 species) - Genus CinclodesCinclodesCinclodes is a genus of passerine birds belonging to the ovenbird family Furnariidae. There are about a dozen species distributed across the southern and Andean regions of South America. They are terrestrial birds of open habitats, typically found near water such as mountain streams and the...
- cinclodes (some 12 species) - Genus Furnarius - horneros (6 species)
- Genus Lochmias - streamcreeper
- Genus Phleocryptes - rushbirds
- Genus Limnornis - curve-billed reedhaunters
- Tribe Synallaxini - SpinetailSpinetailSpinetail can refer to birds of several genera:* Family Apodidae :** Mearnsia** Zoonavena** Telacanthura** Rhaphidura** Neafrapus* Family Furnariidae :** Oreophylax** Schoeniophylax** Synallaxis...
s and allies- Genus MargarornisMargarornisMargarornis is the genus of treerunners, birds in the family Furnariidae. It contains the following species:* Ruddy Treerunner, Margarornis rubiginosus* Fulvous-dotted Treerunner, Margarornis stellatus...
- treerunners (4 species) - Genus PremnoplexPremnoplexPremnoplex is the genus of typical barbtails, birds in the family Furnariidae. It contains the following species:It contains the following species:* Spotted Barbtail, Premnoplex brunnescens* White-throated Barbtail, Premnoplex tatei...
- typical barbtails (2 species) - Genus AphrasturaAphrasturaThe rayaditos are a genus of birds in the Furnariidae, the Ovenbird .It contains the following species:* Thorn-tailed Rayadito, Aphrastura spinicauda* Masafuera Rayadito, Aphrastura masafuerae...
- rayaditos (2 species) - Genus Leptasthenura - tit-spinetails (10 species)
- Genus PseudoseisuraPseudoseisuraThe cacholotes are four species of relatively large, heavy-billed Furnariids in the genus Pseudoseisura. They are found in shrubby habitats in the South American countries of Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay...
- cacholotes (4 species) - Genus Spartonoica - wren-spinetails
- Genus Sylviorthorhynchus - wiretails
- Genus SchizoeacaSchizoeacaThe thistletails are birds in the family Furnariidae. They are found in highland forest, shrub and grassland in the Andes of South America. They have a mainly brown plumage, and most have grey underparts. All have long tails with pointed tips...
- thistletails (8 species) - Genus Oreophylax - thistletails
- Genus Asthenes - canasteros (18-20 species)
- Genus PseudasthenesPseudasthenesPseudasthenes is a genus of small suboscine passerine birds, commonly known as canasteros or false canasteros, in the Ovenbird family. It was described in 2010 to accommodate four species split from the related genus Asthenes. The genus is endemic to South America.-Species:* Dusky-tailed...
- "false canasteros" (4 species, recently described) - Genus CerthiaxisCerthiaxisCerthiaxis is a genus of bird in the Furnariidae family.It contains the following species:* Red-and-white Spinetail, Certhiaxis mustelina* Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Certhiaxis cinnamomea...
- spinetails (2 species) - Genus Schoeniophylax - spinetails
- Genus SynallaxisSynallaxisSynallaxis is a genus of passerine birds in the ovenbird family. They are a member of the spinetails and thistletails, a group of 2 large and some 10 small or monotypic genera.-List of species:*Rufous-capped Spinetail, Synallaxis ruficapilla...
- spinetails (some 30-35 species) - Genus PoecilurusPoecilurusPoecilurus is a genus of birds in the Furnariidae family from South America. Today all major authorities include them in Synallaxis instead, but unlike the "traditional" members of that genus, Poecilurus have closely webbed, broad-tipped, and soft tail feathers. Despite this difference, genetic...
(3 species, usually included in Synallaxis) - Genus Siptornopsis - spinetails
- Genus Gyalophylax - spinetails (1 species sometimes included in Synallaxis)
- Genus Hellmayrea - spinetails
- Genus CranioleucaCranioleucaThe typical spinetails, Cranioleuca, are a genus of birds in the Furnariidae family. It may include the Straight-billed Reedhaunter.-Species:* Creamy-crested Spinetail, Cranioleuca albicapilla...
- typical spinetails (c.20 species) - Genus Limnoctites - straight-billed reedhaunters (sometimes included in Limnornis, but closer to, and possibly better merged with Cranioleuca)
- Genus Roraimia - Roraiman barbtails (formerly in the "Margarornis group")
- Genus ThripophagaThripophagaThripophaga is the genus of birds that popularly are known as softtails. They are members of the family Furnariidae, which are related to the thistletails...
- softtails (4 species) - Genus PhacellodomusPhacellodomusPhacellodomus is the genus of thornbirds, birds in the family Furnariidae. They are found in woodland, shrubland and grassland, often near water, in South America.-Species:...
- thornbirds (9 species) - Genus Anumbius - firewood-gatherers
- Genus Coryphistera - brushrunners
- Genus Siptornis - prickletails
- Genus Metopothrix - plushcrowns
- Genus XenerpestesXenerpestesXenerpestes is the genus of greytails, birds in the family Furnariidae. It contains the following species:* Equatorial Graytail, Xenerpestes singularis* Double-banded Graytail, Xenerpestes minlosi...
- graytails (2 species) - Genus Acrobatornis - graveteiros
- Genus Margarornis
- Tribe Philydorini - foliage-gleaners and allies
- Genus AnabacerthiaAnabacerthiaAnabacerthia is a genus of bird in the Furnariidae family.It contains the following species:* White-browed Foliage-gleaner, Anabacerthia amaurotis* Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner, Anabacerthia variegaticeps...
- foliage-gleaners (3 species) - Genus SyndactylaSyndactylaSyndactyla is a genus of foliage-gleaners, birds in the family Furnariidae. It contains the following species:* Lineated Foliage-gleaner, Syndactyla subalaris* Guttulate Foliage-gleaner, Syndactyla guttulata...
- foliage-gleaners (5 species) - Genus Simoxenops - recurvebills (2 species)
- Genus Ancistrops - hookbills
- Genus Hyloctistes - woodhaunters
- Genus PhilydorPhilydorPhilydor is a genus of foliage-gleaners, birds in the family Furnariidae. It contains the following species:* Chestnut-winged Foliage-gleaner, Philydor erythropterum...
- foliage-gleaners (10 species) - Genus AnabazenopsAnabazenopsAnabazenops is a genus of birds in the Furnariidae family.It contains the following species:* Dusky-cheeked Foliage-gleaner or Crested Foliage-gleaner, Anabazenops dorsalis - formerly in Automolus...
- foliage-gleaners (2 species) - Genus Cichlocolaptes - treehunter
- Genus ThripadectesThripadectesThripadectes is the genus of typical treehunters, birds in the family Furnariidae. It contains the following species:* Flammulated Treehunter, Thripadectes flammulatus* Buff-throated Treehunter, Thripadectes scrutator...
- treehunters (7 species) - Genus AutomolusAutomolusAutomolus is a genus of bird in the Furnariidae family.-Species:* Chestnut-crowned Foliage-gleaner, Automolus rufipileatus* White-eyed Foliage-gleaner, Automolus leucophthalmus** Pernambuco Foliage-gleaner, Automolus lammi...
- foliage-gleaners (8-9 species) - Genus HylocryptusHylocryptusHylocryptus is a genus of birds in the Furnariidae family. They are found at low levels in woodland and forest in South America. They have a relatively heavy bill, and their plumage is at least partially orange-rufous.-Species:...
- foliage-gleaners (2 species)
- Genus Anabacerthia
- Incertae sedisIncertae sedis, is a term used to define a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Uncertainty at specific taxonomic levels is attributed by , , and similar terms.-Examples:*The fossil plant Paradinandra suecica could not be assigned to any...
- Genus Megaxenops - great xenops
- Genus Heliobletus - lesser treehunters
- Genus Clibanornis - groundcreepers
External links
- Ovenbird videos on the Internet Bird Collection
- Ovenbird sounds in the xeno-canto collection
- A classification of the bird species of South America (Part 6) (SACC)