Photo: (c) ignacio_hernandez, some rights reserved (CC BY) / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Short-billed Miner
Geositta antarctica
Short-billed Miner (Geositta antarctica) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Short-billed Miner (Geositta antarctica) is a member of the Furnariidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 36.9 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Furnariidae Ovenbirds
- Genus Geositta
- Species antarctica
Quick facts
- Weight
- 36.9 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Furnariidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Short-billed Miner is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Short-billed Miner is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Short-billed Miner (Geositta antarctica) belongs to the Furnariidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA s, w Argentina and s Chile.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 36.9 g, with a wing length of about 10.6 cm and a tail of around 6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 108,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Short-billed Miner?
The Short-billed Miner is a small bird that weighs around 36.9 g.
Where does the Short-billed Miner live?
The Short-billed Miner is found across South America with a range covering SA s, w Argentina and s Chile, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Short-billed Miner belong to?
The Short-billed Miner (Geositta antarctica) belongs to the Furnariidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Short-billed Miner eat?
The Short-billed Miner is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Short-billed Miner migrate?
The Short-billed Miner is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Short-billed Miner endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Short-billed Miner make?
1 real field recording of the Short-billed Miner — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Short-billed Miner's range?
The Short-billed Miner has a mapped global range of about 108,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Furnariidae
A field guide to the Furnariidae family — 321 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.