Andean Flamingo
Phoenicoparrus andinus
Rather local and declining; found at salt lakes and bogs in the high Andes. Associates readily with Chilean and James’s Flamingos, although each species often stays slightly apart within mixed groups. All plumages show clean-cut black triangle on closed wings, unlike other flamingos. Adult has long bill “hook” and diagnostic yellow legs. Like other flamingos, immature often noticeably smaller than adult, but has long bill “hook”, unlike the stubby bill of smaller and shorter-legged James’s Flamingo.
Identification
It is distinguished from other flamingos by its deeper lower mandible and the very long filtering filaments on the maxilla. It is the largest flamingo in the Andes and is one of the two heaviest living flamingos alongside the taller greater flamingo. Reportedly body mass of the Andean flamingo has ranged from 1.5 to 4.9 kg (3.3 to 10.8 lb), height from 1 to 1.4 m (3 ft 3 in to 4 ft 7 in) and wingspan from 1.4 to 1.6 m (4 ft 7 in to 5 ft 3 in).<p>The flamingo has a pale pink body with brighter upperparts, deep vinaceous-pink lower neck, breast, and wing coverts. It is the only flamingo species with yellow legs and three-toed feet. Its bill is pale yellow near the skull, but black for the majority of its length, and curves downward. Its lower mandible is less apparent than those of the genus Phoenicopterus.<p>Juveniles present a uniformly pale gray plumage. It is often duskier on the head and neck. Coverts and scapulars can have darker brown centers. Meanwhile, adults are overall pale pink, with the feathers on the lower neck and chest being much brighter pink; coverts may be similarly bright pink. Head and upper neck may be a brighter pink than the rest of the body, which can appear almost white with only a pale pink wash, but head and pp upper neck never as bright as the lower neck and breast. Primaries and secondaries black, which when wings are folded, appear as bold black triangle that is not obscured by other feathers.<p>Fossils attributed to Andean Flamingo have been found at the Salar de Atacama border and roughly date to the Early Formative period, approximately 3,000 to 2,200 BP. These fossils date to a period consistent with the onset of modern climate conditions that the species now inhabits.
Taxonomy
Genus: Phoenicoparrus; Family: Phoenicopteridae; Order: Phoenicopteriformes.
- Scientific name
- Phoenicoparrus andinus
- Authority
- (Philippi, 1854)
- Order
- Phoenicopteriformes
- Family
- Phoenicopteridae
- Genus
- Phoenicoparrus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Migration pattern: Complete migrants.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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