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GENUS SYNALLAXIS (SPINETAILS)

(2 species). Skulking, long-tailed, rather wren-like

ovenbirds of scrubby and grassy habitats; heard far more often than seen. Singles and pairs creep slowly and

inconspicuously; sometimes sing from atop grass clump or small bush. Flight low and direct but rather weak,

tail held loosely; usually soon crash back into cover. Nests are bulky globular masses of grasses and twigs.

PALE-BREASTED SPINETAIL  Synallaxis albescens 14–15cm. Skulks in weedy

fields, grassy thickets, shrubby second growth. See genus note. Distinctive

when seen, with rusty cap and wings, black neck patch below whitish throat;

juv. plumage (held briefly) quite different, much duller and browner overall

but not much like other species in Costa Rica; cf. House Wren (p. 344).

SOUNDS: Bright clucking kuip, and excited burry rattle. Song a sneezy, slightly

harsh whi’cheu! often repeated steadily every 1–2 secs, faster when agitated.

STATUS: Fairly common to uncommon on s. Pacific slope, locally to 1200m;

spreading with deforestation. (Costa Rica to S America.)

SLATY SPINETAIL  Synallaxis brachyura 15–16.5cm. Skulks in weedy fields,

grassy thickets, shrubby second growth, roadsides. See genus note. Distinctive

when seen, with dark slaty plumage, contrasting bright rusty cap and wings;

juv. plumage (held briefly) duller and browner overall, without rusty cap.

SOUNDS: Sharp nasal chk and gruffer chrek, at times repeated steadily. Song a

short, overall slightly descending, gruff chattering rattle, chk-k-k-k-k-krr that

slows and fades slightly at the end, about 0.5 sec. STATUS: Fairly common to

common on both slopes, to 1250m on Pacific slope, to 1500m on Caribbean

slope. (Honduras to S America.)

LEAFTOSSERS (GENUS SCLERURUS)

(3 species). Stocky, mostly terrestrial ovenbirds with

rather long slender bills, relatively short tails. Forage in leaf litter, eponymously tossing leaves with bill.

Most often detected by voice, especially call notes as birds flush from forest floor with a quiet whirr of

wings, when they may perch briefly on a low branch. Often sing from low perch; nest in burrows in banks.

TAWNY-THROATED (MIDDLE AMERICAN) LEAFTOSSER  Sclerurus mexi­

canus 16–17cm. Shady floor of humid foothill forest, favoring tangled gullies,

overgrown banks. Note long slender bill, ruddy throat and breast (can be quite

dull), short dark tail. Cf. Gray-hooded Leaftosser. SOUNDS: Sharp explosive

sweek! Song a slightly descending, unhurried series of (usually 2–7) high, thin,

overslurred whistles, Squeeih squeeih..., 2–3 secs, sometimes run into a short

rippling trill. STATUS: Uncommon on both slopes, 1000–1800m on Pacific

slope, 700–1500m on Caribbean slope. (Mexico to Panama.)

*GRAY-HOODED [GRAY-THROATED] LEAFTOSSER  Sclerurus [albigularis]

canigularis 17–18cm. Shady floor of humid foothill forest, often with fairly

open understory. Slightly larger and stouter-billed than Tawny-throated Leaf­

tosser, with grayer head, plain grayish throat contrasting with dark rusty breast.

SOUNDS:  Sharp metallic chik, lower, more smacking than Tawny-throated

Leaftosser. Song a fairly rapid, descending series of (usually 5–8) short squeaky

whistles slowing at the end and often run into 1–3 rising squeaky chips, swee-

swee-swee-sweee-sweee weik weik, 1–2 secs; repeated over and over when agitated.

STATUS: Scarce to uncommon on n. Caribbean slope, 600–1600m; spills over

locally to humid Pacific slope. (Costa Rica to w. Panama.)

SCALY-THROATED LEAFTOSSER  Sclerurus guatemalensis  17–18cm. Shady

floor of humid lowland forest, often in rather open areas with abundant leaf litter.

Often flicks its wings as it hops and shuffles; sings from ground or low perch.

Other leaftossers mainly at higher elevations; Scaly-throated often looks simply

dark brown overall, pale mottling on breast more evident than scaly throat.

SOUNDS: Sharp explosive sweeik! Song a fairly rapid, slowing and speeding series of

bright whistles, 2–5 secs, at times ending with a short twittering trill; when excited,

songs repeated steadily with flowing rhythm, barely a pause between them.

STATUS: Uncommon on Caribbean slope, to 1000m. (Mexico to nw. Ecuador.)