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 placed by some authors in genus Phacellodomus. The species has three subspecies, the nominate T. f. fusciceps (Sclater, PL, 1889), T. f. dimorpha (Bond, J & Meyer de Schauensee, 1941), and T. f. obidensis (Todd, 1925). Because the subspecies are different sizes and are geographically much separated, some authors speculate that they should be treated as full species. == Description == The plain softtail is 16 to 18 cm (6.3 to 7.1 in) long and weighs 23 to 24 g (0.81 to 0.85 oz). The sexes have almost the same plumage. Adult males of the nominate subspecies have a faint pale supercilium and a thin dark line through the eye on a otherwise pale brownish gray face. Their crown is pale gray-brown with faint buff marks. Their upper back is pale gray-brown that becomes rufescent brown on the lower back, rump, and uppertail coverts. Their tail is rufous. Their wings are mostly dark rufous with dark brown tips on the flight…