Ovenbird (family) explained

Ovenbirds or furnariids are a large family of small suboscine passerine birds found from Mexico and Central to southern South America. They form the family Furnariidae. This is a large family containing around 315 species and 70 genera. The ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla), which breeds in North America, is not a furnariid – rather it is a distantly related bird of the wood warbler 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.^[1] 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.^[2]

They are small to medium-sized birds, ranging from 9 to 35 cm in length.^[2] 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 and the surf cinclodes, are associated with rocky coasts.

Taxonomy and systematics

The woodcreepers (formerly Dendrocolaptidae) were merged into this family, following analysis of sequences. While confirming the overall phylogenetic pattern, other scientists instead opted for maintaining the woodcreepers as a separate family, while splitting the ovenbirds (as traditionally defined) into two families, Furnariidae and Scleruridae.

The cladogram below showing the subfamilies of the ovenbirds is based on a molecular genetic studies that revealed that Sclerurinae was the first group to diverge^{[3] [4]} The species numbers are from the list maintained by the International Ornithologists' Union (IOC).^[5]

The phylogeny of the Furnariidae is now well understood thanks to multiple analyses of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA.^{[6] [7] [8] [9]} Among other discoveries, the classification of several genera had to be revised.^{[10] [11] [12]} The taxonomic arrangement presented below is based on molecular genetic studies of ovenbird relationships. However, because ovenbirds and woodcreepers are treated here as a single family some taxonomic ranks were modified. For more detail see "List of ovenbird species".

Subfamily: Sclerurinae – miners and leaftossers

• Genus Geositta – miners (11 species)
• Genus Sclerurus – leaftossers (7 species)

Subfamily: Dendrocolaptinae – woodcreepers

• Tribe: Sittasomini – "intermediate" woodcreepers
  • Genus Dendrocincla – woodcreepers (6 species)
  • Genus Deconychura – long-tailed woodcreepers (3 species)
  • Genus Sittasomus – olivaceous woodcreeper
  • Genus Certhiasomus – spot-throated woodcreeper (genus introduced in 2010 for Deconychura stictolaema)
• Tribe: Dendrocolaptini – "strong-billed" woodcreepers
  • Genus Glyphorynchus – wedge-billed woodcreeper
  • Genus Nasica – long-billed woodcreeper
  • Genus Dendrexetastes – cinnamon-throated woodcreeper
  • Genus Dendrocolaptes – woodcreepers (5 species)
  • Genus Hylexetastes – woodcreepers (3 species)
  • Genus Xiphocolaptes – woodcreepers (4 species)
  • Genus Dendroplex – straight-billed woodcreepers (2 species, formerly in Xiphorhynchus)
  • Genus Xiphorhynchus – woodcreepers (13 species)
  • Genus Lepidocolaptes – narrow-billed woodcreepers (11 species)
  • Genus Drymornis – scimitar-billed woodcreeper
  • Genus Drymotoxeres – greater scythebill
  • Genus Campylorhamphus – scythebills (6 species)

Subfamily: Furnariinae – Neotropical ovenbirds and allies

• Genus: Xenops – xenops (4 species)
• Genus Berlepschia – point-tailed palmcreeper
• Tribe Pygarrhichini
  • Genus Pygarrhichas – white-throated treerunner
  • Genus Microxenops – rufous-tailed xenops^[13]
  • Genus Ochetorhynchus – earthcreepers (4 species formerly included in Upucerthia)
• Tribe Furnariini – horneros and allies
  • Genus Pseudocolaptes – tuftedcheeks (3 species)
  • Genus Premnornis – rusty-winged barbtail
  • Genus Tarphonomus – (genus introduced in 2007 for 2 species formerly included in Upucerthia)
  • Genus Geocerthia – striated earthcreeper (genus introduced in 2009 for U. serrrana)
  • Genus Upucerthia – earthcreepers (4 species)
  • Genus Cinclodes – cinclodes (15 species)
  • Genus Furnarius – horneros (8 species)
  • Genus Lochmias – sharp-tailed streamcreeper
  • Genus Phleocryptes – wren-like rushbird
  • Genus Limnornis – curve-billed reedhaunter

• Tribe Philydorini – foliage-gleaners and allies
  • Genus Megaxenops – great xenops
  • Genus Anabazenops – foliage-gleaners (2 species)
  • Genus Ancistrops – chestnut-winged hookbill
  • Genus Cichlocolaptes – (2 species)
  • Genus Heliobletus – sharp-billed treehunter
  • Genus Philydor – foliage-gleaners (5 species)
  • Genus Dendroma – foliage-gleaners (2 species)
  • Genus Anabacerthia – foliage-gleaners (5 species)
  • Genus Syndactyla – foliage-gleaners (8 species)
  • Genus Clibanornis – (5 species)^[14]
  • Genus Thripadectes – treehunters (7 species)
  • Genus Automolus – foliage-gleaners (11 species)
• Tribe Synallaxini – spinetails and allies
  • Genus Margarornis – treerunners (4 species)
  • Genus Premnoplex – typical barbtails (2 species)
  • Genus Aphrastura – rayaditos (3 species)^[15]
  • Genus Hellmayrea – white-browed spinetail
  • Genus Sylviorthorhynchus – (2 species)
  • Genus Leptasthenura – tit-spinetails (9 species)
  • Genus Phacellodomus – thornbirds (10 species)
  • Genus Anumbius – firewood-gatherer
  • Genus Coryphistera – lark-like brushrunner
  • Genus Pseudoseisura – cacholotes (4 species)
  • Genus Pseudasthenes – false canasteros
  • Genus Spartonoica – bay-capped wren-spinetail
  • Genus Asthenes – canasteros (29 species)
  • Genus Certhiaxis – spinetails (2 species)
  • Genus Mazaria – white-bellied spinetail
  • Genus Schoeniophylax – chotoy spinetail
  • Genus Synallaxis – spinetails (37 species)
  • Genus Siptornis – spectacled prickletail
  • Genus Metopothrix – orange-fronted plushcrown
  • Genus Xenerpestes – graytails (2 species)
  • Genus Acrobatornis – pink-legged graveteiro
  • Genus Limnoctites – reedhaunters (2 species)
  • Genus Thripophaga – softtails (4 species)
  • Genus Cranioleuca – typical spinetails (20 species)
  • Genus Roraimia – Roraiman barbtail

The phylogenetic tree shown below is based on a large-scale genetic 2020 study of the suboscines by Michael Harvey and collaborators.^[16] The tawny tit-spinetail (Leptasthenura yanacencis) has been moved to the genus Sylviorthorhynchus, the sulphur-bearded spinetail (Cranioleuca sulphurifera) has been moved to the genus Limnoctites and its English name changed to the sulphur-bearded reedhaunter, and the white-bellied spinetail (Synallaxis propinqua) has been placed in the monotypic genus Mazaria. These changes are included in the tree shown below. The remaining paraphyletic genera are flagged in the tree by an asterisk.

In 2009, the large ovenbird family was divided into tribes by Robert Moyle and collaborators. The tribes as defined in the 2009 article do not fit well with the revised taxonomy of Harvey and are not included here. For example, the tribe Furnariini as defined in the 2009 article is not monophyletic in the Harvey phylogeny. The species numbers in the cladogram are from the list maintained by the International Ornithologists' Union (IOC).^[5]

Fossil Record

Furnariids boast a notable fossil for a passerine family. Numerous fossils comprising multiple skeletal elements, including cranial remains, have facilitated the identification and description of five distinct fossil species. Among these, two have been classified within the extant genera Cinclodes and Pseudoseisura, while the remaining three belong into the extinct genus Pseudoseisuropsis. All fossil are of Pleistocene age.

• †Pseudoseisuropsis nehuen Noriega 1991, early Pleistocene of Argentina.^[17]
• †Pseudoseisuropsis cuelloi Claramunt & Rinderknecht 2005, late Pleistocene of Uruguay.^[18]
• †Pseudoseisuropsis wintu Stefanini et al. 2016, Early Pleistocene of Argentina.^[19]
• †Cinclodes major Toni 1977, Pleistocene of Argentina.^[20]
• †Pseudoseisura cursor Toni & Noriega, 2001, Pleistocene of Argentina.^[21]

Further reading

• Cheviron . Z. A. . Capparella . Angelo P. . Vuilleumier . François . 2005 . Molecular phylogenetic relationships among the Geositta miners (Furnariidae) and biogeographic implications for avian speciation in Fuego-Patagonia . . 122 . 1. 158–174 . 10.1642/0004-8038(2005)122[0158:MPRATG]2.0.CO;2 . 86706398 . free .

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)

Notes and References

1. Remsen, J. V., Jr. 2003. Family Furnariidae (ovenbirds). Pages 162–357 in J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott and D. A. Christie eds. Handbook of the birds of the world, Vol. 8, broadbills to tapaculos. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
2. Book: Forshaw, Joseph. Willis, Edwin O.. 1991. Encyclopaedia of Animals: Birds. Merehurst Press. London. 162–163. 978-1-85391-186-6.
3. Irestedt . Martin . Fjeldså . Jon . Johansson . Ulf S . Ericson . Per G.P . 2002 . Systematic relationships and biogeography of the tracheophone suboscines (Aves: Passeriformes) . Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution . 23 . 3 . 499–512 . 10.1016/s1055-7903(02)00034-9. 12099801 .
4. Chesser . R.Terry . 2004 . Molecular systematics of New World suboscine birds . Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution . 32 . 1 . 11–24 . 10.1016/j.ympev.2003.11.015. 15186793 .
5. Web site: January 2023 . Gill . Frank . Frank Gill (ornithologist) . Donsker . David . Rasmussen . Pamela . Pamela Rasmussen . Ovenbirds, woodcreepers . 12 March 2023 . IOC World Bird List Version 13.1 . International Ornithologists' Union.
6. Irestedt . Martin . Fjeldså . Jon . Ericson . Per G. P. . 2004 . Phylogenetic Relationships of Woodcreepers (Aves: Dendrocolaptinae): Incongruence between Molecular and Morphological Data . Journal of Avian Biology . 35 . 3 . 280–288 . 10.1111/j.0908-8857.2004.03234.x . 3677441 . 0908-8857.
7. Irestedt . Martin . Fjeldså . Jon . Ericson . Per G. P. . 2006 . Evolution of the ovenbird-woodcreeper assemblage (Aves: Furnariidae) - major shifts in nest architecture and adaptive radiation . Journal of Avian Biology . en . 37 . 3 . 260–272 . 10.1111/j.2006.0908-8857.03612.x.
8. Fjeldså . Jon . Irestedt . Martin . Ericson . Per G. P. . 2004-09-14 . Molecular data reveal some major adaptational shifts in the early evolution of the most diverse avian family, the Furnariidae . Journal of Ornithology . 146 . 1 . 1–13 . 10.1007/s10336-004-0054-5 . 11581358 . 2193-7192.
9. Derryberry . E.P. . Claramunt . S. . Derryberry . G. . Chesser . R.T. . Cracraft . J. . Aleixo . A. . Pérez-Emán . J. . Remsen Jr . J.V. . Brumfield . R.T. . 2011 . Lineage diversification and morphological evolution in a large-scale continental radiation: the Neotropical ovenbirds and woodcreepers (Aves: Furnariidae) . Evolution . 65 . 10 . 2973–2986 . 10.1111/j.1558-5646.2011.01374.x . 21967436 . free.
10. CHESSER . R. TERRY . CLARAMUNT . SANTIAGO . DERRYBERRY . ELIZABETH . BRUMFIELD . ROBB T. . 2009-08-28 . Geocerthia, a new genus of terrestrial ovenbird (Aves: Passeriformes: Furnariidae) . Zootaxa . 2213 . 1 . 64–68 . 10.11646/zootaxa.2213.1.4 . 1175-5334.
11. DERRYBERRY . ELIZABETH . CLARAMUNT . SANTIAGO . O’QUIN . KELLY E. . ALEIXO . ALEXANDRE . CHESSER . R. TERRY . REMSEN JR. . J. V. . BRUMFIELD . ROBB T. . 2010-04-01 . Pseudasthenes, a new genus of ovenbird (Aves: Passeriformes: Furnariidae) . Zootaxa . 2416 . 1 . 61 . 10.11646/zootaxa.2416.1.4 . 1175-5334.
12. Claramunt . Santiago . Derryberry . Elizabeth P. . Cadena . Carlos Daniel . Cuervo . Andrés M. . Sanín . Camilo . Brumfield . Robb T. . 2013 . Phylogeny and Classification of Automolus Foliage-gleaners and Allies (Furnariidae) . The Condor . en . 115 . 2 . 375–385 . 10.1525/cond.2013.110198. 59375772 .
13. The correct genus for former Xenops milleri
14. Claramunt. Santiago. Derryberry. Elizabeth P.. Cadena. Carlos Daniel. Cuervo. Andrés M.. Sanín. Camilo. Brumfield. Robb T.. Phylogeny and classification of Automolus foliage-gleaners and allies (Furnariidae). The Condor. 115. 2. 2013. 375–385. 10.1525/cond.2013.110198 . 59375772 .
15. Rozzi . Ricardo . Quilodrán . Claudio S. . Botero-Delgadillo . Esteban . Napolitano . Constanza . Torres-Mura . Juan C. . Barroso . Omar . Crego . Ramiro D. . Bravo . Camila . Ippi . Silvina . Quirici . Verónica . Mackenzie . Roy . Suazo . Cristián G. . Rivero-de-Aguilar . Juan . Goffinet . Bernard . Kempenaers . Bart . Poulin . Elie . Vásquez . Rodrigo A. . The Subantarctic Rayadito (Aphrastura subantarctica), a new bird species on the southernmost islands of the Americas . Scientific Reports . Springer . 12 . 1 . 2022-08-26 . 13957 . 2045-2322 . 10.1038/s41598-022-17985-4. 36028531 . 9418250 . free . 2022NatSR..1213957R .
16. Harvey . M.G. . etal . 2020 . The evolution of a tropical biodiversity hotspot . Science . 370 . 6522 . 1343–1348 . 10.1126/science.aaz6970 . 33303617 . 2020Sci...370.1343H . 10138/329703 . 228084618 . free . A high resolution version of the phylogenetic tree in Figure 1 is available from the first author's website here.
17. Noriega . 1991 . J. I. . 317–323 . Un nuevo género de Furnariidae (Aves: Passeriformes) del Pleistoceno inferior-medio de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina . Ameghiniana . 28. 3–4 .
18. Claramunt. Santiago. Rinderknecht. Andrés. A new fossil furnariid from the Pleistocene of Uruguay, with remarks on nasal type, cranial kinetics, and relationships of the extinct genus Pseudoseisuropsis. The Condor. 107. 1. 2005. 114. 0010-5422. 10.1650/7499. 85702253 . free.
19. Stefanini. M. Ignacio. Gómez. Raúl O.. Tambussi. Claudia P.. A new species of the Pleistocene furnariid Pseudoseisuropsis (Aves, Passeriformes). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 36. 3. 2016. e1100630. 0272-4634. 10.1080/02724634.2016.1100630. 2016JVPal..36E0630S . 87281054 . 11336/44149. free.
20. Toni . E. P. . Un furnárido (Aves, Passeriformes) del Pleistoceno medio de la Provincia de Buenos Aires . Publicaciones del Museo Municipal de Ciencias Naturales de Mar del Plata Lorenzo Scaglia . 1977 . 2 . 141–147.
21. Toni . E. P. . Noriega . J. I. . Una especie extinta de Pseudoseisura Reichenbach 1853 (Passeriformes: Furnariidae) del Pleistoceno de la Argentina: comentarios filogenéticos . Ornitologia Neotropical . 2001 . 12 . 29–44.