Geositta crassirostris
The Thick-billed Miner, *Geositta crassirostris*, is a robust, medium-sized terrestrial passerine, endemic to the high Andes of Peru and a fascinating member of the ovenbird family (Furnariidae). Measuring 16-17 cm (6.3-6.7 inches) in length and weighing 27-38 g (1.0-1.3 oz), it sports a dull brown upperparts, a whitish belly, and a pale buff supercilium. Its most distinctive field mark is its notably thick, slightly decurved bill, which contrasts with the thinner bills of many other miner sp...
Found in high-altitude Andean grasslands (puna) and rocky areas, often near boggy ground or lakes, typically between 3,000 and 4,800 meters (9,800-15,700 feet) above sea level.
Feeds primarily on insects and other small terrestrial invertebrates, which it gleans or probes from the soil and under rocks using its specialized bill.
The Thick-billed Miner is a highly terrestrial bird, typically observed walking or running on the ground with an agile, teetering gait. It forages actively by probing its stout bill into soft soil, gleaning invertebrates from under stones, and darting after prey across open ground. Pairs are beli...
The Thick-billed Miner is endemic to the high Andes of central and southern Peru, inhabiting a fragmented but continuous range along the puna grasslands. Its distribution extends from the Ancash region southwards through the departments of Lima (at high elevations), Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Cusco,...
Least Concern
- The Thick-billed Miner's scientific name, *crassirostris*, directly translates to 'thick-billed,' highlighting its most defining physical characteristic. - It is one of the highest-dwelling passerines in the Andes, thriving in environments with low oxygen levels and extreme temperatures. - Unli...