Stripe-crowned Spinetail (Cranioleuca pyrrhophia) - HBW 8, p. 292

Taxonomy: Dendrocopus pyrrhophius Vieillot, 1818, Paraguay.
Genetic data indicate that this is sister-species to C. henricae. Closely related also to C. obsoleta, which suggested by some as race of present species; varying degrees of similarity between them in SE Brazil, Uruguay and NE Argentina demonstrated in recent study as indicative possibly of past or current hybridization or perhaps independent variation; further study needed. All three considered by some to form a superspecies that also includes C. subcristata, C. pallida, C. albicapilla, C. antisiensis and C. baroni, but genetic data suggest that at least the last two of those are not part of this lineage. Geographical variation clearly more complex than indicated by current taxonomy, but may be largely clinal, plumage becoming more greyish above and more whitish below towards S; within populations assigned to nominate race, variation in crown streaking evidently great, with streaking reduced in SE Brazil but many birds elsewhere at least as streaked as striaticeps, and those from lowland S Bolivia closer in appearance to nearby montane population of that race but having undertail-coverts like nominate. Further study needed. Three subspecies recognized.