Geositta poeciloptera
The Campo Miner (Geositta poeciloptera) is a charming and often elusive ovenbird, reaching lengths of approximately 14-16 cm and weighing around 20-30 grams. Its plumage is generally sandy brown to grayish-brown above, with a distinctive rufous patch visible in the wings during flight, a key field mark. A subtle pale supercilium often provides additional identification. Underparts are typically paler, buffy to whitish, sometimes with faint streaking on the breast. This species belongs to the ...
Found primarily in arid to semi-arid grasslands, puna, and high-altitude pastures, often with scattered low shrubs and rocky outcrops, typically above 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) elevation.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of invertebrates including beetles, ants, grasshoppers, and their larvae, gleaned from the ground or low vegetation.
Campo Miners are largely diurnal, spending their active hours foraging on the ground, often with a distinctive upright posture and bobbing head. Their foraging strategy involves walking rapidly, pausing to glean insects from vegetation or probe the soil with their slender bills. They are generall...
The Campo Miner is endemic to the high Andes of South America, primarily distributed across the puna and high-altitude grasslands. Its breeding range extends from central Peru, southward through the highlands of Bolivia, and into northwestern Argentina, particularly in the provinces of Jujuy, Sal...
Least Concern
- The "miner" in its name comes from its habit of excavating burrows for nesting, often into the sides of earthen banks or cliff faces. - Campo Miners are true high-altitude specialists, regularly found at elevations exceeding 4,500 meters (14,700 feet) where oxygen levels are significantly lower...