Furnariidae bird family

Order Passeriformes · 16 selected species

Browse verified BirdLens profiles selected for complete taxonomy, substantial descriptive coverage, and visual evidence. Open a species to compare its identification notes, distribution, behavior, sounds, and maps.

Amazonian Barred-WoodcreeperDendrocolaptes certhiaLarge reddish brown woodcreeper of lowland rainforest. Lightly barred from face to back and underparts; this barring can be quite diffuse and sometimes difficult to see in the field. Average-sized bill can be brown to dark red, depending on the population. A faint dark cheek pattern can often be seen. Similar to some other large unstreaked woodcreepers; weak pattern of horizontal barring and dark brown or red (not gray) bill help differentiate from Cinnamon-throated, Plain-brown, and White-chinned Woodcreepers. Prefers mature forest habitats, and is frequently found singly or in pairs around army ant swarms. Voice is a quick descending series of whistles, shorter and more quickly descending than Black-banded.

Curve-billed ScythebillCampylorhamphus procurvoidesA brown, tree-climbing bird with a strongly curved bill. Appears small-headed; plumage is mostly rufous-brown with buffy streaking on head and neck. Found in tall rainforest, where it is uncommon and locally distributed; often occurs in areas with extensive bamboo thickets. Generally shy and rather difficult to observe. Forages at middle and upper levels, using extraordinary bill to probe into deep bark crevices, bromeliads, and broken bamboo stems. Regularly follows mixed-species flocks. Song is variable, usually an accelerating series of strident whistles. Curved bill should immediately distinguish this species from most other woodcreepers in range. In western and central Amazonia, may overlap with Red-billed Scythebill, from which it may not be safely separable unless singing.

Dark-bellied CinclodesCinclodes patagonicusFairly common in lowlands and foothills; often along the coast south of the range of Seaside Cinclodes. Found along streams, lakeshores, on rocky coasts, and also feeding on lawns and in pastures near water. Plumage dark overall with bold white head stripes and fine whitish streaking on breast. Larger, darker, and more sluggish than sprightly Gray-flanked Cinclodes (the two can occur together in winter), with a slightly longer bill. Note the bold buffy wing stripe shown in raised wing song display from a low perch.

Dusky-tailed CanasteroPseudasthenes humicolaFairly common but easily overlooked in lowlands and foothills of central Chile. Found in matorral, scrub and adjacent semiopen areas with bushes. Presence can be revealed by bulky stick nests placed in bushes. Fairly skulking, keeping mainly to bushes and other cover, but also runs well on the ground, tail held cocked; often in pairs. Plumage relatively distinctive with whitish eyebrow, buffy to cinnamon flanks, and dark tail. Northern desert populations are paler and grayer overall while southern populations in humid areas are darker overall.

Eastern WoodhaunterAutomolus subulatusThis fairly small brown bird is a shy forest-dwelling species; it is usually seen in the lower or middle levels of the forest interior. Most similar to foliage-gleaners, which can be very similar in plumage. Look for the woodhaunter’s blurry buffy streaking on the head and breast, rather long straight bill, and lack of a pale eyebrow. Does not climb up tree trunks like a woodcreeper, but forages by hopping around tangles, mosses, and vines, rummaging around looking for invertebrates. Most often seen singly or in pairs, sometimes accompanying mixed-species flocks. Listen for two nasal whistles followed by a hard staccato trill. Occurs throughout western Amazonia.

Fawn-throated Foliage-gleanerAutomolus cervinigularisSkulking and generally inconspicuous brown bird of humid tropical forest. Found as singles or pairs, clambering in vine tangles or other dense understory, at times in leaf litter on the forest floor; usually difficult to see clearly. Note the rich buffy throat, conspicuous buffy eyebrow and eyering, and rusty tail on an otherwise plain dark brownish bird. Loud song is a repeated, churring rattle, given from middle level perches inside the forest. Occurs from southern Mexico to central Panama, where it approaches the range of Ochre-throated Foliage-gleaner, and best distinguished by voice.

Many-striped CanasteroAsthenes flammulataFairly common brownish bird found in shrubby grasslands and páramo in the high Andes from northern Colombia to central Peru. Notable features include bold white streaking above and below and rufous wings that contrast with its brown body. Typically shows a thin white eyebrow. Some variation across range: birds in East Andes of Colombia have a tawnier face while birds in Peru are whiter below. Compare with Streak-backed Canastero, which has much plainer underparts. Can be fairly sneaky and difficult to see on the ground or in dense shrubs, but occasionally perches in the open, especially when singing. Listen for accelerating series of harsh “scree” notes ending in a hard, fast trill.

Ochre-throated Foliage-gleanerAutomolus ochrolaemusSkulking and generally inconspicuous brown bird of humid tropical forest. Found as singles or pairs, clambering in vine tangles or other dense understory, at times in leaf litter on the forest floor; usually difficult to see clearly. Note the rich buffy throat, conspicuous buffy eyebrow and eyering, and rusty tail on an otherwise plain dark brownish bird. Song is a descending series of nasal notes, speeding up and often sputtering at the end. Occurs from central Panama (where approaches the range of Fawn-throated Foliage-gleaner, and best distinguished by voice) throughout much of northern South America, to central Brazil.

Pale-legged HorneroFurnarius leucopusThrush-sized, plump bird of open habitats, especially near water. Particularly fond of riverside woodland but also around human settlements, clearings, and roadsides. Builds an impressive dome-shaped mud nest. Rich rufous above and pale tan below, with a whiter throat and eyebrow. Dark reddish-brown eye. Most often seen strutting confidently on the ground, and also perches up quite high to sing: listen for a long, loud, descending series of rough chip notes. Occurs in lowlands across much of South America, from the base of the Andes in Peru to far eastern Brazil.

Plain-mantled Tit-SpinetailLeptasthenura aegithaloidesWidespread and often fairly common in southern South America. Found in varied habitats from Patagonian shrub-steppe to parks and gardens to high Andean puna shrub-grassland to lowland desert scrub. Often in pairs, foraging low to high from weedy brush and shrubs to tree canopy; agile and often active, clinging upside down at tips of branches. Identified by streaky face, mostly plain back, and very long spiky-tipped tail. Voice varies regionally and multiple cryptic species are likely involved.

Rufous-tailed Foliage-gleanerAnabacerthia ruficaudataA medium-sized bird, brownish above and pale buff below, with a bright rufous tail and a distinctive buffy line behind the eye. Found in tall rainforest, where it occurs mainly in the midstory and canopy. Feeds on insects and forages actively, often investigating dead leaf clusters and other accumulations of detritus. Song is fairly fast series of nasal upslurred notes, sometimes preceded by a fast series of sharper nasal calls. Most similar to Rufous-rumped Foliage-gleaner, but Rufous-tailed is somewhat smaller and usually in higher levels in the forest. Note also Rufous-tailed’s brown rump contrasting with the rufous tail.

Streak-backed CanasteroAsthenes wyattiSmall, brownish bird with a long, spiky tail. Inhabits grassland and dense scrub at high elevations from western Venezuela to northern Argentina; southern populations were formerly split as Puna Canastero. Rather nondescript; plain brown underparts and dark streaks on upperparts help distinguish it from other similar canasteros. Also note some rufous in wings and tail. Sometimes shows tiny orange chin patch. Forages on the ground, where it is hard to see, but occasionally ascends to a more open perch to rest or sing. Song is a fast, high pitched, rattling trill, starting a bit slower and accelerating.

Streaked TuftedcheekPseudocolaptes boissonneautiiFairly large, chunky, brownish bird of Andean cloud forest from Venezuela to Bolivia. Distinctive in most of range with its bright white cheeks that flare out to the side. Otherwise warm brown with rufous tail, streaked back, thin pale eyebrow, and scaly pattern on breast. Sexes alike. Usually found singly or in pairs, often following a mixed-species flock through the middle and upper levels of the subtropical and temperate forest zone from around 2,000–3,200 m. Hops conspicuously along large limbs, probing into moss clumps and bromeliads. Range only overlaps slightly with Buffy Tuftedcheek, which is found at lower elevations and has an unstreaked back and a buffy tinged cheek and throat.

Streaked XenopsXenops rutilansSmall brown bird with large distribution from Costa Rica to Argentina. Rufous-brown overall with whitish eyebrow and a white stripe on the side of the face. Extensive streaking on crown and underparts separates from Plain Xenops. Compare with Slender-billed Xenops, which occurs primarily in lowland Amazonian forests where Streaked does not and is not as boldly streaked. Usually found singly or in pairs following a mixed-species flock. Occurs in mature forests and edges, from the understory to the canopy, but most often at middle levels. Can be found from the lowlands up to around 2,500 m.

Western WoodhaunterAutomolus virgatusThis fairly small brown bird is a shy forest-dwelling species; it is usually seen in the lower or middle levels of the forest interior. Most similar to foliage-gleaners, which can be very similar in plumage. Look for the woodhaunter’s blurry buffy streaking on the head and breast, rather long straight bill, and lack of a pale eyebrow. Does not climb up tree trunks like a woodcreeper, but forages by hopping around tangles, mosses, and vines, rummaging around looking for invertebrates. Most often seen singly or in pairs, sometimes accompanying mixed-species flocks. Listen for series of hard nasal chips, and grating scold calls. Occurs from eastern Nicaragua to western Ecuador.