The creamy-rumped miner is a species of bird in the subfamily Sclerurinae, the leaftossers and miners, of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Argentina and Chile.
Region
Andes Mountains
Typical Environment
Occurs in arid to semi-arid high Andean zones of northern Chile and adjacent northwestern Argentina. It favors open, sparsely vegetated slopes, puna grasslands, and stony flats where bare ground is common. The species also uses road cuts, eroded banks, and the margins of salt flats and dry valleys. Local movements may bring it to slightly lower elevations in winter, but it largely remains in open highland terrain year-round.
Altitude Range
2000–4500 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The creamy-rumped miner is a ground-dwelling ovenbird recognized by its pale rump that flashes in flight. It often digs short burrows or uses earthen banks for nesting, a hallmark of the miner group. Well adapted to sparse, windy highland habitats, it forages with quick runs and short, low flights. Pairs are typically territorial during the breeding season.
Temperament
wary and terrestrial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low to the ground
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, becoming territorial during the breeding season. Nests are placed in self-excavated burrows or natural earthen crevices, where both sexes participate in excavation and care. Courtship involves chases over open ground and display flights that reveal the pale rump.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a simple, high-pitched series of thin trills delivered from the ground or a low perch. Calls include dry chips and short rattles, often given during brief flights. Vocalizations are modest but carry in open, windy habitats.
Plumage
Overall sandy to isabelline brown above with paler, creamy underparts and a distinctly creamy rump that contrasts in flight. Tail shows warmer rufous tones with a darker subterminal band. A faint pale supercilium and clean, minimally streaked breast give a plain-faced appearance. Wings are dusky with buff edging, and the plumage blends well with stony ground.
Diet
Feeds primarily on ground-dwelling arthropods such as beetles, ants, termites, and spiders. It probes loose soil and pecks among stones, using quick runs to pursue prey. Occasional small seeds or plant material may be taken, especially in harsher seasons. Foraging is typically solitary and methodical.
Preferred Environment
Open, sparsely vegetated ground with ample bare patches, including puna grasslands, rocky slopes, and salt flat margins. It also frequents human-modified areas like road cuts and erosion banks that provide foraging and nesting opportunities.
