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Ovenbirds (Furnariidae)

Slaty Spinetail (Synallaxis brachyura) - HBW 8, p. 283

French: Synallaxe ardoisé German: Graurücken-Dickichtschlüpfer Spanish: Pijuí Pizarroso
Other common names: Grey-throated/Sooty Spinetail, Sooty Castlebuilder

Taxonomy: Synallaxis brachyurus Lafresnaye, 1843, Colombia = “Bogotá”.
Probably forms a superspecies with S. erythrothorax and perhaps S. tithys; abruptly replaces former in N Honduras, and their nests are remarkably similar. Proposed race chapmani (S Central America to NW Ecuador) described as like nigrofumosa but with rump slightly browner and crown, wings and underparts slightly paler, but variation evidently clinal, and individual specimens not diagnosable. Named taxon jaraguana from E Brazil (Goiás), described as a race of present species, was based on misidentified specimens of S. hypospodia. Four subspecies tenta.. View all taxonomy...

Taxonomy: Synallaxis brachyurus Lafresnaye, 1843, Colombia = “Bogotá”.
Probably forms a superspecies with S. erythrothorax and perhaps S. tithys; abruptly replaces former in N Honduras, and their nests are remarkably similar. Proposed race chapmani (S Central America to NW Ecuador) described as like nigrofumosa but with rump slightly browner and crown, wings and underparts slightly paler, but variation evidently clinal, and individual specimens not diagnosable. Named taxon jaraguana from E Brazil (Goiás), described as a race of present species, was based on misidentified specimens of S. hypospodia. Four subspecies tentatively recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • nigrofumosa Lawrence, 1865 - NC Honduras S to Panama and NW Colombia S to NW Ecuador (S to N Guayas).
  • brachyura Lafresnaye, 1843 - N Colombia (Antioquia E to Magdalena Valley).
  • caucae Chapman, 1914 - C Colombia (Cauca Valley).
  • griseonucha Chapman, 1923 - SW Ecuador (S from Guayas and Azuay) S to extreme NW Peru (Tumbes).

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