Geositta


Geositta is a genus of passerine birds in the ovenbird family, Furnariidae. They are known as miners due to the tunnels they dig for nesting. There are 11 species including the campo miner which was formerly classified in a genus of its own, Geobates. They inhabit open country in South America, particularly the Andean and Patagonian regions. They are ground-dwelling birds, somewhat resembling the larks and wheatears of other continents. They are mostly drab brown in coloration and often have a fairly long and slender bill.

Species list

The genus contains 11 species:
ImageScientific nameCommon NameDistribution
Geositta peruvianaCoastal minerPeru.
Geositta cuniculariaCommon minerChile, Argentina and Uruguay, parts of Peru and Bolivia and in southernmost Brazil.
Geositta tenuirostrisSlender-billed minerArgentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru.
Geositta antarcticaShort-billed minerSanta Cruz Province and Tierra del Fuego
Geositta isabellinaCreamy-rumped minerArgentina and Chile.
Geositta saxicolinaDark-winged minerPeru.
Geositta maritimaGreyish minerChile and Peru
Geositta punensisPuna minerArgentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru.
Geositta rufipennisRufous-banded minerArgentina, Bolivia, and Chile.
Geositta poecilopteraCampo minerBrazil and far northeastern Bolivia
Geositta crassirostrisThick-billed minerPeru.