Geositta tenuirostris
The Slender-billed Miner, *Geositta tenuirostris*, is a distinctive and highly adapted passerine bird belonging to the ovenbird family (Furnariidae). Measuring approximately 15-18 cm (6-7 inches) in length and weighing 25-35 grams, this species is characterized by its dull, earthy plumage, primarily grayish-brown on the upperparts and paler, buffy-white below. Its most notable field mark, from which it derives its name, is its remarkably long, slender, and slightly decurved bill, unique among...
Found in high-altitude puna, barren Andean grasslands, and dry montane slopes, typically between 2,500m and 4,500m, often near rocky outcrops or sandy banks.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of invertebrates such as beetles, ants, and larvae, which they extract from the ground by probing with their specialized bill.
Slender-billed Miners are primarily diurnal, active ground-foragers. They move rapidly with an upright posture, exhibiting a characteristic tail-bobbing behavior as they glean and probe the ground for invertebrates. These birds are generally solitary or found in pairs, becoming more territorial d...
The Slender-billed Miner is resident throughout the high Andes of western South America, extending from central Peru southward through Bolivia, northern Chile, and northwestern Argentina. Its distribution is primarily associated with the puna and altoandine zones, typically occurring at elevation...
Least Concern
- The Slender-billed Miner's bill is uniquely long and decurved among its genus, an adaptation for probing deep into the sparse, often stony soils of the Andes. - Despite living in extremely harsh high-altitude environments, they are remarkably resilient and one of the most common birds in their ...