Tit-spinetails
Andean tit-spinetail, Leptasthenura andicola (Ecuador)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Furnariidae
Genus: Leptasthenura
Reichenbach, 1853
Type species
Synallaxis aegithaloides
Plain-mantled tit-spinetail
Kittlitz, 1830
Species

See text

Tit-spinetails are small passerine birds of the genus Leptasthenura, belonging to the ovenbird family Furnariidae. They are found in South America, particularly the southern and Andean parts of the continent. They are somewhat similar to birds of the tit family in their shape and feeding behaviour, hence the first part of their name. The "spinetail" part of their name refers to their long, pointed tail feathers. Tit-spinetails have short rounded wings, short pointed bills and are mainly brown in colour. Their nests are built in holes or in the old nests of other birds.

Taxonomy

The genus Leptasthenura was introduced in 1853 by the German naturalist Ludwig Reichenbach.[1] The name combines the Ancient Greek leptos meaning "thin", asthenēs meaning "weak" and oura meaning "tail".[2] The type species was designated as the plain-mantled tit-spinetail by George Robert Gray in 1855.[3][4]

Species

The genus contains nine species:[5]

The tawny tit-spinetail is placed together with Des Murs's wiretail in the genus Sylviorthorhynchus.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Reichenbach, Ludwig (1853). "Icones ad synopsin avium No. 10 Scansoriae A". Handbuch der speciellen Ornithologie (in German). Dresden und Leipzig: Expedition Vollständigsten Naturgeschichte. pp. 145–218 [145, 160].
  2. ↑ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 222. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
  3. ↑ Gray, George Robert (1855). Catalogue of the Genera and Subgenera of Birds Contained in the British Museum. London: British Museum. p. 27.
  4. ↑ Peters, James Lee, ed. (1951). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 7. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 74.
  5. 1 2 Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (January 2021). "Ovenbirds, woodcreepers". IOC World Bird List Version 11.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 29 June 2021.


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