''Thripophaga'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of birds that popularly are known as softtails. They are members of the ovenbird

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

, Furnariidae. They are found in wooded and shrubby habitats, sometimes near water, in South America.

Taxonomy and systematics

Softtails are closely related to ''

Cranioleuca The typical spinetails, ''Cranioleuca'', are a genus of Neotropical birds in the ovenbird family Furnariidae. This is a homogeneous group of small birds that live in forested habitats. The spinetails in this genus differ from those placed in ' ...

'' spinetails and the generic limits between these two genera were not clear in the past. For example, the Russet-mantled Softtail, despite its English name, is a true ''

'' spinetail, and the

speckled spinetail The speckled spinetail (''Cranioleuca gutturata'') is a species of bird in the family Furnariidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical ...

turned out to be part of ''Thripophaga''. Previous speculations suggesting a close relationship between ''Thripophaga'' and ''

Phacellodomus ''Phacellodomus'' is the genus of thornbirds, birds in the family Furnariidae. They are found in woodland, shrubland and grassland, often near water, in South America. Taxonomy The genus ''Phacellodomus'' was introduced in 1853 by the German na ...

'' were disproved.

Extant species

The genus contains five

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

: *

Speckled spinetail The speckled spinetail (''Cranioleuca gutturata'') is a species of bird in the family Furnariidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical ...

(''Thripophaga gutturata'') *

Orinoco softtail The Orinoco softtail (''Thripophaga cherriei'') is a Vulnerable species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Colombia and Venezuela.Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramun ...

(''Thripophaga cherriei'') *

Delta Amacuro softtail The Delta Amacuro softtail (''Thripophaga amacurensis'') is a Vulnerable species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is endemic to the southern Orinoco Delta in northeastern Venezuela.Clements, J. F., P ...

(''Thripophaga amacurensis'') *

Striated softtail The striated softtail (''Thripophaga macroura'') is a species of bird in the family Furnariidae. It is endemic to eastern Brazil. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane fo ...

(''Thripophaga macroura'') *

Plain softtail The plain softtail (''Thripophaga fusciceps'') is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru. Taxonomy and systematics The plain softtail was at times ...

(''Thripophaga fusciceps'')

References

Bird genera Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Furnariidae-stub