Creamy-rumped miner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Creamy-rumped miner |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Geositta
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| Species: |
isabellina
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The creamy-rumped miner (Geositta isabellina) is a cool bird that lives in the high mountains. It's part of the ovenbird family called Furnariidae. You can find this bird in Argentina and Chile. It's known for its creamy white rump, which is the back part of its body above its tail.
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About the Creamy-rumped Miner
The creamy-rumped miner is a unique bird. It's the only species in its group, meaning there are no other birds exactly like it. This makes it a "monotypic" species.
What Does It Look Like?
This bird is a medium-sized miner. It grows to be about 17.5 to 18.5 centimeters (around 7 inches) long. It weighs between 38 and 48 grams, which is about the same as a few strawberries. Both male and female creamy-rumped miners look alike.
They have a pale, sandy buff face with a lighter stripe above their eye. Their head and back are also pale sandy buff. The most special part is their creamy white rump and the feathers covering their upper tail.
Their tail feathers are mostly buff, but they have a wide, dark band near the end. Their wings are sandy buff. The throat is whitish, and the rest of their belly is a light creamy color. They have brown eyes and a slightly curved, blackish beak. Their legs and feet are blue-gray. Young birds look like adults but might have pale spots on their head.
Where Does It Live?
The creamy-rumped miner lives in the Andes Mountains. You can find it in Chile, from the Atacama Region down to Talca Province. It also lives in nearby parts of Argentina, including Catamarca, San Juan, and Mendoza provinces.
These birds love high places. They live in "puna grasslands," which are grassy areas in the high Andes. They prefer barren slopes with lots of rocks. You'll usually find them at elevations from 3,000 to 5,000 meters (about 9,800 to 16,400 feet). Sometimes, they can be seen as low as 2,000 meters (about 6,500 feet).
How Does It Behave?
Moving Around
Creamy-rumped miners usually stay in the same area all year. However, some birds might move to lower elevations after they've had their young. A few individuals also travel north into Chile's Antofagasta Region.
What Does It Eat?
This bird finds its food on the ground. It often forages alone or in pairs. They mostly eat arthropods, which are small creatures like insects and spiders. They pick them up from the ground and off rocks.
How Does It Raise Its Young?
Scientists believe creamy-rumped miners nest during the summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Young birds have been seen in February and March. They are thought to be monogamous, meaning a male and female pair up to raise their young.
They dig a tunnel in sloping ground. At the end of the tunnel, they make a larger chamber where they build their nest. A female creamy-rumped miner usually lays three eggs.
What Does Its Song Sound Like?
The creamy-rumped miner has a loud and strong song. It's a trill, which means a fast, repeating sound, with 3 to 12 notes. They sing this song while flying in a special display or from a rock where they are perched.
Is It Safe?
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has listed the creamy-rumped miner as a species of "Least Concern." This means it's not currently in danger of disappearing.
However, it lives in a specific area, and its exact population size isn't known. Scientists believe its numbers might be going down. No immediate big threats have been found for this bird. It's considered uncommon, meaning you don't see them everywhere. Their mountain home is generally safe from human activities, except for some overgrazing by animals.
