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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
Chilean
flamingo |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Aves |
| ORDER: |
Ciconiiformes |
| FAMILY: |
Phoenicopteridae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Phoenicopterus
(crimson red winged) ruber (red) chilensis
(of Chile) |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
The
Chilean flamingo is a tall, large bodied bird with
a long neck and small head. Most flamingos, including
this species, have pale pink plumage and bills.
This subspecies of flamingo is slightly smaller
than the Caribbean flamingo and has gray legs with
pink bands at the joints. |
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| SIZE: |
Approximately
80-145 cm (31-57 in) long |
| FEMALE |
Females
tend to be smaller than males |
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| WEIGHT: |
Approximately
1.9-3 kg (4.2-6.6 lbs) |
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| DIET: |
Includes
algae, diatoms, aquatic invertebrates such as crustaceans
and mollusks |
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| INCUBATION: |
26-31
days |
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
Usually
1 large egg |
| FLEDGING
DURATION |
Approximately 11 weeks |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
Approximately
6 years |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
In
the wild, up to 50 years |
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| RANGE: |
South
America, from Chile to Argentina |
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| HABITAT: |
Inhabits
tropical and warm climates, both along the coast
and at high altitudes |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
200,000
or fewer individuals |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not
listed |
| CITES |
Appendix
II |
| USFWS |
Lower
risk/ Near threatened |
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| 1. |
In
many languages, the word flamingo (originally derived
from the Portuguese language meaning 'red goose')
is a reference to their flying style formation and
the noise they make. |
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| 2. |
All flamingos feed with their bills upside-down.
They tip their head into the water and filter feed,
using special hair like adaptations in the top half
oftheir bill, to gather the microorganisms that
make up their diet. |
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| 3. |
Flamingos are an ancient group of birds. Their fossil
records dates back to the Miocene epoch, which is
about 10 million years ago. |
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| 4. |
Flamingos are not born with their beautiful pink
plumage. Their color comes from the carotenoid pigments
they consume as part of their diet. Some scientists
believe that a flamingo's success in breeding relies
on its bright color. |
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| 5. |
Both
the male and female make the nests by scooping mud
together with their feet and bill. |
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| 6. |
Both
male and female adults, provide their young with
a type of milk called crop milk. |
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| 7. |
Like
other South American flamingos, these birds are
able to endure cold temperatures. |
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| 8. |
For
more information about flamingos, explore the flamingo
info book. |
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Flamingos
have few natural predators because they live in
remote, inhospitable places.
Their
mostly alkaline diet does not fit the needs of
other animals. By eating the smallest of organisms,
they not only keep watering holes productive,
they also help circulate the waters by turning
over the mud and silt on the bottom of rivers,
streams, and ponds.
Their
uses to man are unfortunately the flamingo's greatest
problem. In the past, their tongues were a rare,
pickled delicacy and their plumage was sometimes
sought for its vibrant color. However, as with
most animals, habitat destruction and exploitation
is by far the flamingo's greatest challenge.
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|
|
| Austin,
O. L. Birds of the World. Golden Press, New
York. 1961. |
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|
Harrison,
C.J.O. and Perrins, C. Birds: Their Life, Their
Ways, Their World. Reader's Digest Association,
Inc., New York. 1987.
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Perrins,
C. and A. Middleton. The Encyclopedia of Birds.
Facts on File Publications, New York. 1985.
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| Sea
World Education Department Publication. Flamingos.
Sea World, Inc. 1994. |
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