Identification: A 16–17 cm miner with a relatively long, slender, and slightly curved bill, with a pale lower mandible and dusky tip. Broad white eyebrow contrasting with dark brown lore and ear coverts. Crown grayish-brown, merging into a rich brown back and chestnut rump. Brown wings with rufous bases. Rounded tail, rufous-chestnut at the base and darker toward the tips. Throat and malar region white. Breast very pale ochraceous and belly light cinnamon, with slightly rufous flanks. Sexes similar. May resemble the Straight-billed Miner and Chestnut-tailed Miner, but is more uniformly colored below, grayer overall, and with a cleaner throat. More similar to the Chaco Miner in structure and general pattern, though they do not share habitat or elevation.

Geographic distribution: Endemic to the High Andes of Bolivia (La Paz to Tarija). In Argentina it occurs only in the extreme north of Salta, between Santa Victoria Oeste and the Bolivian border, in arid and rocky inter-Andean valleys between 1400 and 3000 m.

Habitat: Dry shrublands and scrub of inter-Andean valleys on steep slopes with rocky outcrops, cacti, queñoa trees, tough shrubs, and understory with terrestrial bromeliads, with deep ravines and gorges. A high biogeographic-value area where this species and the Bolivian Warbling-Finch occur only in Argentina.

Behavior: Solitary or in pairs. Forages on the ground among stones, crevices, and leaf litter, inspecting the substrate slowly but consistently. Frequently vocalizes at dusk. Unlike several other miners, it usually does not raise its tail. Moves among low shrubs and hides quickly when disturbed. Its song is a series of 7–15 dry, penetrating notes, increasing in intensity and descending in pitch, ending in a brief chatter. Common call is sharp and repetitive; also gives a thin whistle.

Diet: Arthropods and small invertebrates, including insects and tiny mollusks. Forages both on the ground and among low branches and bromeliads.

Conservation status: Not globally threatened. Categorized as Occasional in Argentina; although very localized and scarce, its population appears stable. Its presence is restricted to a small, hard-to-access area, and additional undetected populations are likely.

Authors of this compilation: Diego Carus and Maria Belén Dri – 06/12/2025