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Home > Species > Chilean Flamingo
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Chilean Flamingo Phoenicopterus chilensis
| Alternative name(s): |
tokoko (local name). |
The Chilean Flamingo Phoenicopterus chilensis is the most widespread of the South American flamingos.
While it shares portions of its range with the Andean and James's Flamingo, it is most closely related to the Caribbean and Greater Flamingo. Together these three species make up the genus Phoenicopterus.
It is distinguised from all other flamingos by its grey legs with pink knees and feet. It is of intermediate size between the larger Andean Flamingo and the smaller James's Flamingo.
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Order:
Family:
Genus:
Species: |
Phoenicopteriformes
Phoenicopteridae
Phoenicopterus
Phoenicopterus chilensis (Molina, 1782)
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Height: c. 100 cm
Weight:
Wingspan:
Voice:
Medium-sized flamingo. Pale roseate body plumage with darker roseate streaks. Proximal half of bill whiteish, distal half black. Pale yellow eyes, and grey legs with pink knees and feet.
Similar species: Andean Flamingos are larger, have a patch of red near their eyes, yellow legs and more black visible in their primaries when standing. James's Flamingos are smaller, have a patch of red near their eyes, orange legs and a yellow and black bill. |
| Range estimate (breeding/resident): |
2,940,000 km2
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From BirdLife: The Chilean Flamingo breeds in central Peru (apparently erratically, irregularly and in small numbers), Bolivia, Argentina, Chile and perhaps erratically in Paraguay (at least one breeding record), with a few wintering in Uruguay and south-east Brazil, and vagrants in Ecuador and the Falkland Islands (Malvinas).
Detailed range map from IUCN/BirdLife:
(Click to enlarge)
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From BirdLife: It occurs on coastal mudflats, estuaries, lagoons and salt-lakes at elevations up to 4,500 m. Breeding habitat is typified by the presence of suitable salinities and islands with extensive surrounding mudflats - conditions that do not occur each year. At Mar Chiquita, birds bred in only nine of the 26 years to 1999.
Sources: BirdLife (Chilean Flamingo Species Factsheet) and IUCN (Chilean Flamingo)
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Population estimate:
Population trend: |
200,000 (1992 and 2000 estimates)
Decreasing
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From BirdLife: In the mid-1970s, the population was estimated at 500,000 birds, but more recent figures of 100,000 in Argentina, up to 30,000 in Chile, and tens of thousands in Peru and Bolivia, suggest that no more than 200,000 individuals persist. This species is apparently declining moderately rapidly - its perceived extent is perhaps misleading, and may partially reflect improved census methods.
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- Intensive egg-harvesting since the arrival of humans in South America - in recent years, egg-collectors have been responsible for the partial or complete failure of colonies in Bolivia
- Mar Chiquita (Argentina), perhaps the most important breeding site, is threatened by abstraction of water for irrigation projects
- Mining has wrought extensive habitat alteration
- Hunting and tourism-related disturbance
Source: BirdLife (Chilean Flamingo Species Factsheet)
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Conservation measures | ^ top |
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Proposed measures:- Extend and continue simultaneous surveys during breeding season to monitor population
- Introduce measures to control intensive egg-harvesting
Source: BirdLife (Chilean Flamingo Species Factsheet)
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Captive collections |
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BirdLife. 2008. Chilean Flamingo Species Factsheet. From http://www.birdlife.org/
datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=3770&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. Chilean Flamingo. From http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/144722, downloaded 13 Nov 2008.
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