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Home > Species > Andean Flamingo
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Andean Flamingo Phoenicoparrus andinus
| Alternative names: |
Greater Andean Flamingo; chururu & parina grande ('big parina') (local names). |
The Andean Flamingo Phoenicoparrus andinus is the largest South American flamingo and is found on the high Andean plateaus of Peru, Chile, Bolivia and Argentina.
It is distinguised from all other flamingos by its yellow legs, pink-violet plumage and large amount of black visible when perching. It is most closely related to the James's Flamingo, and the two are the only members of the genus Phoenicoparrus.
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Order:
Family:
Genus:
Species: |
Phoenicopteriformes
Phoenicopteridae
Phoenicoparrus
Phoenicoparrus andinus (Philippi, 1854)
Alternatively, Phoenicopterus andinus in Collar et al. (1994) and Sibley & Monroe (1990, 1993). |
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Source: BirdLife (Andean Flamingo Species Factsheet)
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Height: 102-110 cm
Weight:
Wingspan:
Voice: Nasal, raspy calls in colonies
Large flamingo. Pale pink body with brighter upperparts, deep vinaceous-pink lower neck, breast and wing-coverts. Large, black, triangular patch of primaries visible when perched. Pale yellow and black bill. Yellow legs. Three forward-pointing toes, no hind toe (hallux). Immature greyish with bold streaks in the upperparts.
Similar species: James's Flamingos are paler, have orange legs and less black visible when perched. Chilean Flamingos have grey legs with pink knees and feet, and also have less black visible when perched. |
| Range estimate (breeding/resident): |
189,000 km2
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From BirdLife: The Andean Flamingo occurs on the high Andean plateaus of Peru, Chile, Bolivia and Argentina, with a resident population of c.100 at Laguna Mar Chiquita, Córdoba, lowland Argentina. It breeds at c.10 localities, notably Laguna Colorada and other salt-lakes in south-west Bolivia, Laguna de Salinas (Peru) and Salar de Atacama (Chile). Breeding has just been recorded for the first time in Argentina (Laguna Brava), but may only occur during strong El Niño years. Vagrant birds have been recorded in Brazil.
Detailed range map from IUCN/BirdLife:
(Click to enlarge)
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From BirdLife: It is largely restricted to high mountain alkaline and salt-lakes, at 2,300-4,500 m. It may be nomadic in search of temporally patchy food supplies (mainly diatoms4). It breeds colonially, laying only one egg (unless first egg predated), mainly in December-February.
Source: BirdLife (Andean Flamingo Species Factsheet)
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Population estimate:
Population trend: |
34,000 (1997 estimate)
Decreasing
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From BirdLife: Population assessments are difficult and vary greatly, but 50,000-100,000 individuals may have been realistic until the mid-1980s. The 34,000 estimated in 1997, suggests that it declined rapidly during the preceding 10-15 years. Breeding success appears to be consistently low, and thus declines may continue for many years, because flamingos have a high longevity (20-50 years). |
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- Egg collection: intensive in the mid-20th century and the early 1980s, with thousands taken annually
- Mining
- Unfavourable water-levels (owing to weather and manipulation)
- Erosion of nest-sites
- Human disturbance
- Hunting: outside protected areas in Bolivia, there is a low level of hunting for food, oils and feathers, especially targeting immatures and juveniles
Source: BirdLife (Andean Flamingo Species Factsheet) |
Conservation measures | ^ top |
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From BirdLife: Breeding occurs in Salinas and Aguada Blanca Nature Reserve, Peru, Salar de Atacama National Flamingo Reserve, Chile, Las Chinchillas Provincial Natural Reserve, Argentina, and Eduardo Avaroa National Faunal Reserve, Bolivia, with a protected non-breeding site at Laguna de los Pozuelos Natural Monument, Argentina. Conservation actions, locally including habitat management, prevention of egg-collecting and raising public awareness, are being undertaken.
Proposed measures:- Continue surveying high Andean salt-lakes to monitor known populations and locate additional ones.
- Protect more sites and raise the status of existing reserves.
- Guard unprotected nest-sites.
Source: BirdLife (Andean Flamingo Species Factsheet)
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Captive collections |
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BirdLife. 2008. Andean Flamingo Species Factsheet. From http://www.birdlife.org/
datazone/search/species_search.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=3772&m=0, downloaded 15 Nov 2008.
International Species Information System (ISIS). ISIS Species Holdings. From http://www.isis.org/CMSHOME/, downloaded 13 Oct 2008.
IUCN. 2008. Andean Flamingo. From http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/144724, downloaded 13 Nov 2008.
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