Synallaxis is a genus of birds in the ovenbird family, Furnariidae. It is one of the most diverse genera in the family and is composed of small birds that inhabit dense undergrowth across tropical and subtropical habitats in the Neotropical region. Some species show contrasting plumage patterns involving rufous crown and wing patches and black throat patches but they are difficult to see as they keep ensconced in vegetation most of the time. Most species show the long graduated tail with pointy feathers that is typical of spinetails. They are also characterized by constructing large domed nests with stick, including a long entrance tube. Some species can be difficult to distinguish from one another on the basis of their plumage, but can be told apart by their vocalizations, which can be quite distinctive.

Taxonomy: The genus Synallaxis was introduced in 1818 by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot. The name is from the Ancient Greek sunallaxis meaning "exchange". Vieillot did not specify a type species but in 1840 George Gray designated the rufous-capped spinetail.

The genus contains 37 species:

Image	Scientific name	Common name	Distribution
125px]]	Ochre-cheeked spinetail	Synallaxis scutata	Brazil, eastern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina
125px]]	Grey-bellied spinetail	Synallaxis cinerascens	southern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, Uruguay and Selva Misionera
125px]]	Plain-crowned spinetail	Synallaxis gujanensis	Guianas, southern Amazonia and Colombia
125px]]	Araguaia spinetail	Synallaxis simoni	Goiás
125px]]	White-lored spinetail	Synallaxis albilora	Pantanal
125px]]	Maranon spinetail	Synallaxis maranonica	lower Marañón River
125px]]	Great spinetail	Synallaxis hypochondriaca	upper Marañón River
125px]]	Chinchipe spinetail	Synallaxis chichipensis	Chinchipe]] and Maranon river
125px]]	Necklaced spinetail	Synallaxis stictothorax	Tumbes
125px]]	Russet-bellied spinetail	Synallaxis zimmeri	western Peru
125px]]	Slaty spinetail	Synallaxis brachyura	Central America and Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena
125px]]	Silvery-throated spinetail	Synallaxis subpudica	Cordillera Oriental (Colombia)
125px]]	Red-shouldered spinetail	Synallaxis hellmayri	Caatinga
125px]]	Rufous-capped spinetail	Synallaxis ruficapilla	southern Atlantic Forest
125px]]	Bahia spinetail	Synallaxis cinerea	Bahia
125px]]	Pinto´s spinetail	Synallaxis infuscata	Pernambuco forests
-	Dusky spinetail	Synallaxis moesta	eastern Northern Andes
125px]]	McConnell´s spinetail	Synallaxis macconnelli	tepuis and Guiana Shield
125px]]	Cabanis´s spinetail	Synallaxis cabanisi	eastern Central Andes
125px]]	Cinereous-breasted spinetail	Synallaxis hypospodia	Cerrado, Caatinga and central Southern Amazonia
125px]]	Spix´s spinetail	Synallaxis spixi	northeastern Brazil to northeastern Argentina
-	Dark-breasted spinetail	Synallaxis albigularis	western Amazonia
125px]]	Rio Orinoco spinetail	Synallaxis beverlyae	Venezuela
125px]]	Pale-breasted spinetail	Synallaxis albescens	South America
125px]]	Sooty-fronted spinetail	Synallaxis frontalis	central/eastern South America
125px]]	Azara´s spinetail	Synallaxis azarae	Andes
125px]]	Apurimac spinetail	Synallaxis courseni	Ampay
125px]]	White-whiskered spinetail	Synallaxis candei	northern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela
125px]]	Rufous-breasted spinetail	Synallaxis erythrothorax	southeastern Mexico and northern Central America
125px]]	Hoary-throated spinetail	Synallaxis kollari	Branco River and tributaries
125px]]	Blackish-headed spinetail	Synallaxis tithys	Tumbes
125px]]	Rusty-headed spinetail	Synallaxis fuscorufa	Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
125px]]	Rufous spinetail	Synallaxis unirufa	northern Andes
	Black-throated spinetail	Synallaxis castanea	central Venezuelan Coastal Range
125px]]	Stripe-breasted spinetail	Synallaxis cinnamomea	mountains of northeastern Colombia and Venezuela ; Trinidad-and-Tobago
125px]]	Ruddy spinetail	Synallaxis rutilans	Amazonia
125px]]	Chestnut-throated spinetail	Synallaxis cherriei	Amazonia (scattered range)

Formerly, some authorities also considered the following species as species within the genus Synallaxis:

• White-browed spinetail (as Synallaxis gularis)
• Chotoy spinetail (as Synallaxis phryganophila)
• White-bellied spinetail (as Synallaxis propinqua)