Rufous-banded Miner Geositta rufipennis Scientific name definitions

The Rufous-banded Miner is a terrestrial furnariid that lives in arid montane areas of Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. A typical miner in appearance, this species is largely tan and gray with rusty patches in the flight feathers and tail, and a stout, slightly decurved bill. A variety of named subspecies warrant further investigation; because of the geographic variation in size and color pattern, it is possible that several cryptic species exist within this complex.  The Rufous-banded Miner is most easily detected by its song, a long, rich series of buzzy "jrrrt" notes.

14–17 cm; 25–54 g. ­Middle-sized to large miner with straight, medium-length bill  , striking wing pattern. Nominate race has conspicuous pale supercilium, dark grey-brown postocular line, rest of face messy brownish-grey; crown to uppertail-coverts uniform dull sandy olive; wing dull grey-brown with paler edgings, rufescent area at base of remiges forming conspicuous broad rufous wingband; tail square to slightly notched, central rectrices dull tawny at base, blending to greyish-brown centrally, with conspicuous broad blackish subterminal area and dull tawny tip, other rectrices with brighter, more rufescent base and progressively more reduced dark subterminal area; throat whitish, breast pale brownish-buff, belly paler, tinged cinnamon, often some cinnamon on flanks; undertail-coverts dull pale tawny; iris brown; bill blackish-grey, most of base of lower mandible paler horn; tarsus and toes blue-grey. Sexes alike. Juvenile undescribed. Races differ substantially in size, also in colour tones: <em>ottowi</em> (described from only 2 specimens) is larger and greyer than nominate, with narrower wingbars, paler underside of wings; fragai is greyer above, with darker wings and tail, breast greyer, less ochraceous; <em>hoyi</em> is almost pure grey dorsally, mostly pinkish-grey below, breast tinged greyer; giaii resembles previous, but slightly darker and greyer above, wingband evidently less extensive, is also significantly longer-billed; <em>fasciata</em> is greyer above , and darker overall; harrisoni is smaller still (by 10% in linear measurements, 30% in body mass), with whiter belly than previous, little or no rufous on flanks and undertail-coverts.

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Puna grassland and arid montane scrub; dry rocky slopes, plateaux, or flat areas with scattered vegetation, also banks of dry riverbeds. Mainly 3100–4400 m in Andes, down to 2200 m in mountains of C Argentina ; to near sea-level locally in Chile (Atacama).

Mainly resident; some post-breeding movement to lower elevations in Chile and Argentina. S races migratory, move N after breeding, but non-breeding range uncertain; migrants occur in flocks of up to 500.

ArthropodsBird capturing a scorpion; also seeds, especially of Coliguaya odorifera (Euphorbiaceae), and leaf buds. Forages solitarily or in pairs; in loose single-species flocks on migration. Food items gleaned from ground.

Song a fast series (c. 5 per second) of buzzy, trilled notes on same pitch  , interrupted by bursts of faster notes, may last more than 20 seconds, decelerating somewhat at end; given in display-flight or from prominent perch on rock.

Breeds during austral summer; eggs in Nov–Mar in Argentina; nestlings in Nov in Chile. Presumably monogamous. Nest at end of tunnel 0·4–1·2 m long excavated 0·5–0·7 m from top of wall of bank or ravine, sometimes in crevice in rocks, floor of nest-chamber with bits of grass, hairs and feathers or, at times, deeper platform up to 1 cm thick and 15–17 cm in diameter. Clutch 2–3 eggs.

Not globally threatened. Fairly common throughout range. Habitat reasonably safe from anthropogenic disturbance, except overgrazing.

Alvaro began birding as an 11 year old in Canada, and eventually trained in Evolutionary Ecology studying, creatures as varied as leaf-cutter ants and Argentine cowbirds. But his career has been focused on birding tourism, both as a guide and owner of his tour company, as well as a avitourism consultant to various organizations. He is the author of Birds of Chile, New World Blackbirds: The Icterids, as well as the ABA Field Guide to the birds of California. He lives in Half Moon Bay, California where he is known for his pelagic birding trips. Email: alvaro@alvarosadventures.com.