--- a/rtree/finder.py
+++ b/rtree/finder.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 import os
 import platform
 import sys
+import sysconfig
 from ctypes.util import find_library
 
 # the current working directory of this file
@@ -29,6 +29,13 @@
     :returns: Loaded shared library
     """
     if os.name == "nt":
+        if sysconfig.get_platform().startswith("mingw"):
+            lib_name = 'libspatialindex_c'
+            path = find_library(lib_name)
+            if path is None:
+                raise OSError("could not find or load {}".format(lib_name))
+            return ctypes.cdll.LoadLibrary(path)
+
         # check the platform architecture
         if "64" in platform.architecture()[0]:
             arch = "64"