Furnariidae – Ovenbirds

Dark-bellied Cinclodes Cinclodes patagonicus ©Steven Brumby Website

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. Not to be confused with the Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla, which breeds in North America, that is not actually a furnariid but a wood warbler in the family, Parulidae.

The ovenbirds are a diverse group of insectivores which get their name from the elaborate, vaguely oven-like clay nests built by the horneros, although most other ovenbirds build stick nests or nest in tunnels or clefts in rock. The Spanish word for oven – horno, gives the horneros their name. Furnariid nests are always constructed with a cover, and up to six pale blue, greenish or white eggs are laid. The eggs hatch after 15 to 22 days, and the young fledge after a further 13 to 20 days.

They are small to medium-sized birds, ranging from 9cm to 35cm in length. While individual species often are habitat specialists, species of this family can be found in virtually any Neotropical habitat, ranging from city parks inhabited by Rufous Horneros, to tropical Amazonian lowlands by many species of foliage-gleaners, to temperate barren Andean highlands inhabited by several species of miners. Two species, the Seaside Cinclodes and the Surf Cinclodes, are associated with rocky coasts.

After DNA sequencing it is generally agreed that there are 314 Ovenbirds that make up the family Furnariidae, this includes the 54 species of Woodcreeper from the former family Dendrocolaptidae, which are confined to the Neotropical zone of Central and South America.

Species List

Campo Miner Geositta poeciloptera
Common Miner Geositta cunicularia
Puna Miner Geositta punensis
Short-billed Miner Geositta antarctica
Slender-billed Miner Geositta tenuirostris
Greyish Miner Geositta maritima
Coastal Miner Geositta peruviana
Dark-winged Miner Geositta saxicolina
Rufous-banded Miner Geositta rufipennis
Creamy-rumped Miner Geositta isabellina
Thick-billed Miner Geositta crassirostris

Straight-billed Earthcreeper Ochetorhynchus ruficaudus
Rock Earthcreeper Ochetorhynchus andaecola
Band-tailed Earthcreeper Ochetorhynchus phoenicurus
Crag Chilia Ochetorhynchus melanurus

Buff-breasted Earthcreeper Upucerthia validirostris
White-throated Earthcreeper Upucerthia albigula
Scale-throated Earthcreeper Upucerthia dumetaria
Patagonian Forest Earthcreeper Upucerthia saturatior

Striated Earthcreeper Geocerthia serrana

Bolivian Earthcreeper Tarphonomus harterti
Chaco Earthcreeper Tarphonomus certhioides

Long-tailed Cinclodes Cinclodes pabsti
Blackish Cinclodes Cinclodes antarcticus
Buff-winged Cinclodes Cinclodes fuscus
Chestnut-winged Cinclodes Cinclodes albidiventris
Cordoba Cinclodes Cinclodes comechingonus
Cream-winged Cinclodes Cinclodes albiventris
Olrog’s Cinclodes Cinclodes olrogi
Stout-billed Cinclodes Cinclodes excelsior
Royal Cinclodes Cinclodes aricomae
White-winged Cinclodes Cinclodes atacamensis
White-bellied Cinclodes Cinclodes palliatus
Grey-flanked Cinclodes Cinclodes oustaleti
Dark-bellied Cinclodes Cinclodes patagonicus
Peruvian Seaside Cinclodes Cinclodes taczanowskii
Chilean Seaside Cinclodes Cinclodes nigrofumosus

Lesser Hornero Furnarius minor
Band-tailed Hornero Furnarius figulus
Pale-legged Hornero Furnarius leucopus
Pacific Hornero Furnarius cinnamomeus
Caribbean Hornero Furnarius longirostris
Bay Hornero Furnarius torridus
Rufous Hornero Furnarius rufus
Crested Hornero Furnarius cristatus

Des Murs’s Wiretail Sylviorthorhynchus desmurii

Thorn-tailed Rayadito Aphrastura spinicauda
Masafuera Rayadito Aphrastura masafuerae

Brown-capped Tit-Spinetail Leptasthenura fuliginiceps
Tawny Tit-Spinetail Leptasthenura yanacensis
Tufted Tit-Spinetail Leptasthenura platensis
Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail Leptasthenura aegithaloides
Striolated Tit-Spinetail Leptasthenura striolata
Rusty-crowned Tit-Spinetail Leptasthenura pileata
White-browed Tit-Spinetail Leptasthenura xenothorax
Streak-backed Tit-Spinetail Leptasthenura striata
Andean Tit-Spinetail Leptasthenura andicola
Araucaria Tit-Spinetail Leptasthenura setaria

Perija Thistletail Asthenes perijana
White-chinned Thistletail Asthenes fuliginosa
Vilcabamba Thistletail Asthenes vilcabambae
Ayacucho Thistletail Asthenes ayacuchensis
Ochre-browed Thistletail Asthenes coryi
Mouse-colored Thistletail Asthenes griseomurina
Eye-ringed Thistletail Asthenes palpebralis
Puna Thistletail Asthenes helleri
Black-throated Thistletail Asthenes harterti
Itatiaia Spinetail Asthenes moreirae
Sharp-billed Canastero Asthenes pyrrholeuca
Short-billed Canastero Asthenes baeri
Canyon Canastero Asthenes pudibunda
Rusty-fronted Canastero Asthenes ottonis
Maquis Canastero Asthenes heterura
Cordilleran Canastero Asthenes modesta
Streak-throated Canastero Asthenes humilis
Rusty-vented Canastero Asthenes dorbignyi
Dark-winged Canastero Asthenes arequipae
Pale-tailed Canastero Asthenes huancavelicae
Berlepsch’s Canastero Asthenes berlepschi
Cipo Canastero Asthenes luizae
Streak-backed Canastero Asthenes wyatti
Puna Canastero Asthenes sclateri
Austral Canastero Asthenes anthoides
Hudson’s Canastero Asthenes hudsoni
Line-fronted Canastero Asthenes urubambensis
Many-striped Canastero Asthenes flammulata
Junin Canastero Asthenes virgata
Scribble-tailed Canastero Asthenes maculicauda

Dusky-tailed Canastero Pseudasthenes humicola
Patagonian Canastero Pseudasthenes patagonica
Cactus Canastero Pseudasthenes cactorum
Steinbach’s Canastero Pseudasthenes steinbachi

Chotoy Spinetail Schoeniophylax phryganophilus

White-whiskered Spinetail Synallaxis candei
Hoary-throated Spinetail Synallaxis kollari
Ochre-cheeked Spinetail Synallaxis scutata
Rufous Spinetail Synallaxis unirufa
Black-throated Spinetail Synallaxis castanea
Rusty-headed Spinetail Synallaxis fuscorufa
Rufous-capped Spinetail Synallaxis ruficapilla
Bahia Spinetail Synallaxis cinerea
Pinto’s Spinetail Synallaxis infuscata
Stripe-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis cinnamomea
Grey-bellied Spinetail Synallaxis cinerascens
Silvery-throated Spinetail Synallaxis subpudica
Sooty-fronted Spinetail Synallaxis frontalis
Azara’s Spinetail Synallaxis azarae
Apurimac Spinetail Synallaxis courseni
Pale-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis albescens
Rio Orinoco Spinetail Synallaxis beverlyae
Dark-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis albigularis
Cinereous-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis hypospodia
Spix’s Spinetail Synallaxis spixi
Ruddy Spinetail Synallaxis rutilans
Chestnut-throated Spinetail Synallaxis cherriei
Rufous-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis erythrothorax
Slaty Spinetail Synallaxis brachyura
Blackish-headed Spinetail Synallaxis tithys
White-bellied Spinetail Synallaxis propinqua
McConnell’s Spinetail Synallaxis macconnelli
Dusky Spinetail Synallaxis moesta
Cabanis’s Spinetail Synallaxis cabanisi
Plain-crowned Spinetail Synallaxis gujanensis
Maranon Spinetail Synallaxis maranonica
White-lored Spinetail Synallaxis albilora
Russet-bellied Spinetail Synallaxis zimmeri
Necklaced Spinetail Synallaxis stictothorax

Great Spinetail Siptornopsis hypochondriaca

Red-shouldered Spinetail Gyalophylax hellmayri

White-browed Spinetail Hellmayrea gularis

Marcapata Spinetail Cranioleuca marcapatae
Light-crowned Spinetail Cranioleuca albiceps
Rusty-backed Spinetail Cranioleuca vulpina
Coiba Spinetail Cranioleuca dissita
Parker’s Spinetail Cranioleuca vulpecula
Sulphur-bearded Spinetail Cranioleuca sulphurifera
Crested Spinetail Cranioleuca subcristata
Stripe-crowned Spinetail Cranioleuca pyrrhophia
Bolivian Spinetail Cranioleuca henricae
Olive Spinetail Cranioleuca obsoleta
Pallid Spinetail Cranioleuca pallida
Grey-headed Spinetail Cranioleuca semicinerea
Creamy-crested Spinetail Cranioleuca albicapilla
Red-faced Spinetail Cranioleuca erythrops
Tepui Spinetail Cranioleuca demissa
Streak-capped Spinetail Cranioleuca hellmayri
Ash-browed Spinetail Cranioleuca curtata
Line-cheeked Spinetail Cranioleuca antisiensis
Baron’s Spinetail Cranioleuca baroni
Speckled Spinetail Cranioleuca gutturata
Scaled Spinetail Cranioleuca muelleri

Yellow-chinned Spinetail Certhiaxis cinnamomeus
Red-and-white Spinetail Certhiaxis mustelinus

Orinoco Softtail Thripophaga cherriei
Delta Amacuro Softtail Thripophaga amacurensis
Striated Softtail Thripophaga macroura
Plain Softtail Thripophaga fusciceps
Russet-mantled Softtail Thripophaga berlepschi

Rufous-fronted Thornbird Phacellodomus rufifrons
Plain Thornbird Phacellodomus inornatus
Little Thornbird Phacellodomus sibilatrix
Streak-fronted Thornbird Phacellodomus striaticeps
Freckle-breasted Thornbird Phacellodomus striaticollis
Spot-breasted Thornbird Phacellodomus maculipectus
Chestnut-backed Thornbird Phacellodomus dorsalis
Greater Thornbird Phacellodomus ruber
Orange-eyed Thornbird Phacellodomus erythrophthalmus
Orange-breasted Thornbird Phacellodomus ferrugineigula

Canebrake Groundcreeper Clibanornis dendrocolaptoides

Bay-capped Wren-Spinetail Spartonoica maluroides

Wren-like Rushbird Phleocryptes melanops

Curve-billed Reedhaunter Limnornis curvirostris

Straight-billed Reedhaunter Limnoctites rectirostris

Firewood-gatherer Anumbius annumbi

Lark-like Brushrunner Coryphistera alaudina

Spectacled Prickletail Siptornis striaticollis

Orange-fronted Plushcrown Metopothrix aurantiaca

Double-banded Greytail Xenerpestes minlosi
Equatorial Greytail Xenerpestes singularis

Rusty-winged Barbtail Premnornis guttuliger

Spotted Barbtail Premnoplex brunnescens
White-throated Barbtail Premnoplex tatei

Roraiman Barbtail Roraimia adusta

Pink-legged Graveteiro Acrobatornis fonsecai

Ruddy Treerunner Margarornis rubiginosus
Star-chested Treerunner Margarornis stellatus
Beautiful Treerunner Margarornis bellulus
Pearled Treerunner Margarornis squamiger

Caatinga Cacholote Pseudoseisura cristata
Grey-crested Cacholote Pseudoseisura unirufa
Brown Cacholote Pseudoseisura lophotes
White-throated Cacholote Pseudoseisura gutturalis

Buffy Tuftedcheek Pseudocolaptes lawrencii
Pacific Tuftedcheek Pseudocolaptes johnsoni
Streaked Tuftedcheek Pseudocolaptes boissonneautii

Point-tailed Palmcreeper Berlepschia rikeri

Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner Anabacerthia variegaticeps
Montane Foliage-gleaner Anabacerthia striaticollis
White-browed Foliage-gleaner Anabacerthia amaurotis

Guttulate Foliage-gleaner Syndactyla guttulata
Lineated Foliage-gleaner Syndactyla subalaris
Buff-browed Foliage-gleaner Syndactyla rufosuperciliata
Rufous-necked Foliage-gleaner Syndactyla ruficollis
Planalto Foliage-gleaner Syndactyla dimidiata
Tepui Foliage-gleaner Syndactyla roraimae

Peruvian Recurvebill Simoxenops ucayalae
Bolivian Recurvebill Simoxenops striatus

Chestnut-winged Hookbill Ancistrops strigilatus

Eastern Woodhaunter Hyloctistes subulatus
Western Woodhaunter Hyloctistes virgatus

Rufous-tailed Foliage-gleaner Philydor ruficaudatum
Slaty-winged Foliage-gleaner Philydor fuscipenne
Rufous-rumped Foliage-gleaner Philydor erythrocercum
Chestnut-winged Foliage-gleaner Philydor erythropterum
Ochre-breasted Foliage-gleaner Philydor lichtensteini
Alagoas Foliage-gleaner Philydor novaesi
Black-capped Foliage-gleaner Philydor atricapillus
Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner Philydor rufum
Cinnamon-rumped Foliage-gleaner Philydor pyrrhodes

Bamboo Foliage-gleaner Anabazenops dorsalis
White-collared Foliage-gleaner Anabazenops fuscus

Pale-browed Treehunter Cichlocolaptes leucophrus
Cryptic Treehunter Cichlocolaptes mazarbarnetti

Uniform Treehunter Thripadectes ignobilis
Streak-breasted Treehunter Thripadectes rufobrunneus
Black-billed Treehunter Thripadectes melanorhynchus
Striped Treehunter Thripadectes holostictus
Streak-capped Treehunter Thripadectes virgaticeps
Flammulated Treehunter Thripadectes flammulatus
Peruvian Treehunter Thripadectes scrutator

Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner Automolus ochrolaemus
Olive-backed Foliage-gleaner Automolus infuscatus
Para Foliage-gleaner Automolus paraensis
White-eyed Foliage-gleaner Automolus leucophthalmus
Pernambuco Foliage-gleaner Automolus lammi
Brown-rumped Foliage-gleaner Automolus melanopezus
Ruddy Foliage-gleaner Automolus rubiginosus
Chestnut-crowned Foliage-gleaner Automolus rufipileatus
Santa Marta Foliage-gleaner Automolus rufipectus

Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner Hylocryptus erythrocephalus
Henna-capped Foliage-gleaner Hylocryptus rectirostris

Tawny-throated Leaftosser Sclerurus mexicanus
Dusky Leaftosser Sclerurus obscurior
Short-billed Leaftosser Sclerurus rufigularis
Grey-throated Leaftosser Sclerurus albigularis
Black-tailed Leaftosser Sclerurus caudacutus
Rufous-breasted Leaftosser Sclerurus scansor
Scaly-throated Leaftosser Sclerurus guatemalensis

Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper Lochmias nematura

Sharp-billed Treehunter Heliobletus contaminatus

Rufous-tailed Xenops Microxenops milleri

Slender-billed Xenops Xenops tenuirostris
Plain Xenops Xenops minutus
Streaked Xenops Xenops rutilans

Great Xenops Megaxenops parnaguae

White-throated Treerunner Pygarrhichas albogularis

Tyrannine Woodcreeper Dendrocincla tyrannina
Plain-brown Woodcreeper Dendrocincla fuliginosa
Plain-winged Woodcreeper Dendrocincla turdina
Tawny-winged Woodcreeper Dendrocincla anabatina
White-chinned Woodcreeper Dendrocincla merula
Ruddy Woodcreeper Dendrocincla homochroa

Long-tailed Woodcreeper Deconychura longicauda
Spot-throated Woodcreeper Deconychura stictolaema

Olivaceous Woodcreeper Sittasomus griseicapillus

Wedge-billed Woodcreeper Glyphorynchus spirurus

Scimitar-billed Woodcreeper Drymornis bridgesii

Long-billed Woodcreeper Nasica longirostris

Cinnamon-throated Woodcreeper Dendrexetastes rufigula

Red-billed Woodcreeper Hylexetastes perrotii
Uniform Woodcreeper Hylexetastes uniformis
Brigida’s Woodcreeper Hylexetastes brigidai
Bar-bellied Woodcreeper Hylexetastes stresemanni

Strong-billed Woodcreeper Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus
White-throated Woodcreeper Xiphocolaptes albicollis
Moustached Woodcreeper Xiphocolaptes falcirostris
Great Rufous Woodcreeper Xiphocolaptes major

Northern Barred Woodcreeper Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae
Amazonian Barred Woodcreeper Dendrocolaptes certhia
Hoffmanns’s Woodcreeper Dendrocolaptes hoffmannsi
Black-banded Woodcreeper Dendrocolaptes picumnus
Planalto Woodcreeper Dendrocolaptes platyrostris

Straight-billed Woodcreeper Dendroplex picus
Zimmer’s Woodcreeper Dendroplex kienerii

Striped Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus obsoletus
Lesser Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus fuscus
Ocellated Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus ocellatus
Tschudi’s Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus chunchotambo
Elegant Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus elegans
Spix’s Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus spixii
Chestnut-rumped Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus pardalotus
Buff-throated Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus guttatus
Cocoa Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus susurrans
Ivory-billed Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus flavigaster
Black-striped Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus lachrymosus
Spotted Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus erythropygius
Olive-backed Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus triangularis

White-striped Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes leucogaster
Streak-headed Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes souleyetii
Narrow-billed Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes angustirostris
Spot-crowned Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes affinis
Montane Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger
Scaled Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes squamatus
Scalloped Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes falcinellus
Guianan Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes albolineatus
Duida Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes duidae
Inambari Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes fatimalimae
Rondonia Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes fuscicapillus
Layard’s Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes layardi

Greater Scythebill Drymotoxeres pucheranii

Red-billed Scythebill Campylorhamphus trochilirostris
Black-billed Scythebill Campylorhamphus falcularius
Brown-billed Scythebill Campylorhamphus pusillus
Curve-billed Scythebill Campylorhamphus procurvoides

Species Links
  • Cocoa Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus susurrans

    Species Account
    Head and neck is dark brown with light brown spots. Upperback is liver brown while lower back and wings are rufous. The underparts are olive brown. The bill is black in colour, long and slightly decurved. Both sixes are similar and the size is between 10 - 12 cm and weight between 40 - 60 gms…
  • Cocoa Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus susurrans

    IUCN Species Status
    The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as fairly common to common throughout most of its range, although uncommon to rare at higher altitudes, in north-west Costa Rica and in northern Honduras (del Hoyo et al. 2003).
  • Cocoa Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus susurrans

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map.
  • Cocoa Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus susurrans

    Species Account
    The cocoa woodcreeper (Xiphorhynchus susurrans) is a passerine bird in the woodcreeper subfamily of the ovenbird family. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the buff-throated woodcreeper (X. guttatus).
  • Cocoa Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus susurrans

    Cornell Species Account
    The Cocoa Woodcreeper is a medium-sized woodcreeper. It occurs in lowland forests, often at forest edge and in second growth, in southern Central America and in northwestern South America, and is common within most of these regions.
  • Olivaceous Woodcreeper Sittasomus griseicapillus

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map.
  • Olivaceous Woodcreeper Sittasomus griseicapillus

    Species Account
    The olivaceous woodcreeper (Sittasomus griseicapillus) is a passerine bird of the tropical Americas. It belongs to the true woodcreepers (tribe Dendrocolaptini) of the ovenbird family (Furnariidae).
  • Olivaceous Woodcreeper Sittasomus griseicapillus

    Cornell Species Account
    The Olivaceous Woodcreeper is a fairly common, widespread, and distinctive suboscine passerine of Neotropical forest and woodland. It is highly polytypic, with fifteen diagnosable subspecies in five subspecies groups (two or thee of which may be separate biological species).
  • White-chinned Woodcreeper Dendrocincla merula

    Species Account
    (Very obscure) Image + The White-chinned Woodcreeper is found in the Amazon Basin. There are several subspecies involved and maybe even two sperate species…
  • White-chinned Woodcreeper Dendrocincla merula

    Species Account
    Sound archive and distribution map.
  • White-chinned Woodcreeper Dendrocincla merula

    Species Account
    The white-chinned woodcreeper (Dendrocincla merula) is a species of bird in the Dendrocolaptinae subfamily. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
  • White-chinned Woodcreeper Dendrocincla merula

    Cornell Species Account
    Seven subspecies of the exclusively Amazonian White-chinned Woodcreeper are generally recognized, but it seems plausible that the nominate subspecies and D. m. obidensis, which are both restricted to areas north of the Amazon and east of the Rio Negro, are better treated as a species apart, based on differences in their songs, size, and eye color.
Number of Species
  • Number of bird species: 314

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