ABSTRACT
An extremely variable family in terms of plumage and morphology, especially in the bill and tail, the furnariids have adapted to nearly all environments in South and Central America, and display wide array of foraging techniques. Three major groups are recognized: Sclerurinae (leaftossers), Dendrocolaptinae (woodcreepers), and Furnariinae collectively referred to as ovenbirds. For their size, furnariids often have relatively large and strong legs and feet. Most species are sexually monochromatic, including all at Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project (BDFFP), but males often average slightly or notably larger than females. Most, if not all, species follow a Complex Basic Strategy and most tropical species appear to have complete preformative molts, but at least some Central American and austral temperate species or populations appear to have partial or incomplete preformative molts. Although it has been reported that the skull does not ossify completely in many genera, it appears that regularly captured species at BDFFP have completely ossified skulls as an adult.
