Campo miner

Geobates poecilopterus

SUBFAMILY

Furnariinae

TAXONOMY

Geobates poecilopterus Wied, 1830.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

French: Géositte des campos; German: Camposerdhacker; Spanish: Caminera de Campo.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Body length is about 5 in (12.5 cm). Bill is short, slightly downcurved, and pointed. The tail is short. The sexes are similar. The overall coloration is light brown, with a lighter buffbrown belly, a whitish throat, and a light stripe over the eye.

DISTRIBUTION

Occurs in interior regions of south-central Brazil and northeastern Bolivia.

HABITAT

Inhabits grassy glades within tropical forest and open grassland, but needs at least a few scattered trees. Appears to favor

areas that have recently been burned. Generally occurs at 1,600–3,950 ft (500–1,200 m).

BEHAVIOR

Non-migratory. Pairs of breeding birds defend a territory. The song is usually given during a hovering display flight, and is a simple, repeated series of buzzy notes.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Forages for insects on the ground. Sometimes perches in shrubs or trees.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Builds an oven-shaped nest of clay. Both the male and female incubate the eggs and rear the nestlings.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened. A locally abundant species.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

None known.