The short-billed 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
Patagonia
Typical Environment
Occurs in southern Argentina and Chile, including Tierra del Fuego and adjacent Patagonian steppe. It favors open, sparsely vegetated habitats with sandy or gravelly soils, coastal dunes, and windswept plains. It also uses overgrazed pasture, road verges, and barren flats where bare ground is abundant. Dense shrublands and forest are generally avoided. Breeding takes place in burrows excavated in banks or level ground.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1000 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The short-billed miner is a ground-dwelling ovenbird of the Patagonian steppe that digs burrows for nesting, giving the group its common name. It can be overlooked due to its sandy, earth-toned plumage that blends with gravelly plains and coastal dunes. Pairs often run rather than fly when disturbed, relying on camouflage and swift footwork.
Temperament
wary and ground-oriented
Flight Pattern
low, undulating flight with short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs, sometimes in small family groups after breeding. Pairs defend a territory and excavate a tunnel leading to a nest chamber lined with plant fibers. Both adults participate in incubation and chick rearing. They spend much time running and probing on open ground.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a thin, tinkling series of notes that accelerates into a brief trill. Calls include sharp chips and a dry, buzzy rattle given in flight or when alarmed.
