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Common Miner
Geositta cunicularia

DESCRIPTION:
Common Miner
Caminera Común
Geositta cunicularia
Length: 170mm. Sexes alike. Bill dark brownish grey with the base of the mandible pale grey; iris dark brown; forehead, crown, hind neck and upperparts greyish brown. Uppertail coverts whitish buff; tail dark brown at the centre and pale brown with outer vexillum whitish buff on outer tail feathers. Lores, eyebrow, cheek, throat, breast and underparts in general whitish buff with feathers margined brown on breast and flanks. Wing coverts greyish brown with buffy margins; tertiaries as coverts; secondaries reddish with subterminal dark brown bar and terminal reddish bar; primaries reddish tinged with grey; underwing coverts and axillaries cinnamon ochraceous. Legs blackish brown. Average weight: 32g.
Juvenile: similar to adults but more profusely spotted on breast. Upperparts show feathers margined with buff. Habitat and behaviour: it frequents open expanses in the Patagonian steppe, preferably sandy and pebbly terrain with scarce vegetation. Its presence on roads is a common sight. It has a characteristic gait and often flies at low height. In flight its reddish wings are very conspicuous. Almost always found in pairs or in scattered groups.
It feeds on insects and seeds. The nest is made in burrows and it is lined with vegetable matter. Up to three white eggs are laid. Similar species: on account of its shape, colour and habits it can only be confounded with the Short-billed Miner (Geositta antarctica). The main distinguishing features are its slightly curved and longer bill, shorter wings, more greyish brown colour overall.
Range: distributed in all Patagonia except in the wooded areas. The race Geositta cunicularia cunicularia is found in central and eastern regions, while the race Geositta cunicularia hellmayri occurs west of Neuquén, Río Negro and Chubut.
Illustrated Handbook of the Birds of Patagonia
Kindness: Kovacs Family
 
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Photographs: Mariano Diez Peña


Birding Patagonia • Birdwatcing in Bariloche, Patagonia, Argentina and Chile.
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Photographs on the website: Mariano Diez Peña