Ovenbirds

Ovenbirds, or furnariids, are a diverse family of small to medium-sized birds, known as Furnariidae, comprised of approximately 315 species and 70 genera, primarily insectivores found from Mexico through Central America to the southernmost regions of South America. They are recognizable for their unique, often clay, oven-like nests, especially those made by the horneros, with most species laying up to six somewhat colorful eggs. These birds vary in size from 9 to 35 cm and inhabit a vast range of environments from tropical forests to Andean highlands and even rocky coastlines. Their taxonomy is complex; previously, woodcreepers were considered part of this family, and ongoing studies sometimes divide the group further or reorganize the genera based on genetic data. Furnariids include various subfamilies such as Sclerurinae, Dendrocolaptinae, and Furnariinae, with the latter containing the "true" ovenbirds. This family exhibits a great deal of habitat specialization, with species adapted to city parks, Amazonian forests, and coastal regions, reflecting their evolutionary success across diverse Neotropical environments.