Azara’s Spinetail

Azara's spinetail (Synallaxis azarae) is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. == Taxonomy and systematics == Azara's spinetail has these nine subspecies: S. a. elegantior Sclater, PL, 1862 S. a. media Chapman, 1914 S. a. ochracea Zimmer, JT, 1936 S. a. fruticicola Taczanowski, 1880 S. a. infumata Zimmer, JT, 1925 S. a. urubambae Zimmer, JT, 1935 S. a. azarae D'Orbigny, 1835 S. a. samaipatae Bond, J & Meyer de Schauensee, 1941 S. a. superciliosa Cabanis, 1883 Subspecies S. a. samaipatae and S. a. superciliosa were together once treated as a separate species, the "buff-browed spinetail". Similarly, S. a. elegantior, S. a. media, S. a. ochracea, and S. a. fruticicola were treated as one species. Azara's spinetail is named after Spanish naturalist Félix de Azara. == Description == Azara's spinetail is 15 to 18 cm (5.9 to 7.1 in) long and weighs 12 to 18 g (0.42 to 0.63 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies S. a. azarae have a brownish gray face with a slightly paler supercilium. Their forehead and forecrown are dark grayish brown, their…