A 14–15.5 cm ground-tyrant with very pale, sandy tones. Short, black, slightly curved bill. Broad but diffuse whitish eyebrow. Underparts almost white, with a very faint grayish wash on the flanks and no streaking on the breast. Upperparts light brown to grayish; rump and base of the tail rufous-cinnamon. Wings brown with buff edges and conspicuous rufous patches visible in flight. Tail dark, with buff outer edges and rufous-tawny tips. Differs from the Common Miner (Geositta cunicularia) by its more uniform plumage, lack of heavy scaling, and shorter bill. It is smaller and paler than the Rufous-banded Miner (Geositta rufipennis), which is more cinnamon-colored and has a straighter bill. The Great Miner (Geositta isabelina) is much larger, with a white rump and less sandy upperparts.
Distribution: Altiplano and Puna of southern Peru, western Bolivia, northern Chile, and northwestern Argentina. In Argentina it occurs from Jujuy south to northern San Juan, mainly in high Puna and Andean altiplano areas between 3500 and 5000 m, occasionally lower in adjacent arid zones, with short altitudinal movements to lower areas in winter.
Habitat: Typical of Puna plains. Prefers rocky flats, sandy or stony soils with scattered grassland, dry vegas, high Andean steppes, and surroundings of saline lagoons or bofedales.
Behavior: Solitary or in pairs. Mostly terrestrial, walking and running almost constantly, taking flight only when necessary. Moves with a wagging tail and slightly forward-leaning posture. Confiding and curious. Performs short, straight flights. Song consists of a slow, prolonged series of variable tinkling notes, given from the ground or during a brief display flight.
Diet: Mainly ground arthropods, including larvae, small beetles, and lepidopterans. Supplements with seeds. Forages by walking among stones, low grasses, and small shrubs, sometimes using plant bases or small mounds.
Breeding: Nests in cavities, tunnels, or preexisting burrows, primarily in sandy soils or banks. Nest placed at the end of a tunnel, consisting of a cup of grasses. Known clutches of 2–3 white eggs.
Conservation status: Not Threatened. Common and widely distributed throughout the Puna.
Authors of this compilation: Diego Carus and Maria Belén Dri – 06/12/2025