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Chilean Flamingo
Phoenicopterus chilensis
CLASS: Aves
ORDER: Ciconiiformes
FAMILY: Phaencopteridae
GENUS: Phoenicopterus
SPECIES: chilensis
LIFESPAN: 50 years in the wild is not unusual
COLOR/PATTERN: Gray legs with pink bands at the joints; pale pink feathers; male and female are similar
HABITAT: large alkaline or saline lakes or estuarine lagoons that lack vegetation
RANGE: Central Peru, both coasts of South America, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Southern Brazil
HEIGHT: 4 to 5 feet
WEIGHT: 6 to 7 pounds
REPRODUCTION: They reach sexual maturity at 6 years of age. Breeding takes place year round and some breed twice per year, however they may not breed every year. Mating often takes place in the water.
CLUTCH: 1 egg: another may be laid if the 1st is lost (known as double clutching)
INCUBATION: 26-31 days
DIET: Carnivore; brine flies, shrimp and mollusks
ACTIVE: Diurnal
STATUS: The Chilean Flamingo is listed in CITES Appendix II. This appendix lists species that are in need of protection and are considered to be threatened-likely to become endangered if trade isn’t regulated.
NOTES:
- If fish are present in the habitat, flamingos won’t be since they often compete for the same food.
- The familiar pink color flamingos are known for is the result of carotenoid pigments found in the flamingo’s food.
- Flamingos have 19 elongated cervical (neck) vertebrate.
- Flamingos have a good sense of hearing but little or no sense of smell.
- Famingos spend 15-30% of their time per day preening.
- Flamingos sweep their heads from side to side close to the surface of the water to collect their food.
- Flamingos are generally very noisy birds; nasal honking, grunting or howling are the most common vocalizations.
- Fossil evidence indicates that the group from which Flamingos evolved is very old an existed 30 million years ago, before many other avian orders had evolved. Fossilized flamingo footprints estimated to be 7 million years old have been found in the Andes Mountains.
- A flamingo’s tongue is covered with bristle-like projections that help filter water and food particles.
- A Flamingo’s webbed feet help support them in mud
- While resting, flamingos face into the wind; this stops the wind and rain from penetrating into the feathers. While standing on one leg, they can be seen swaying in the wind.
- Flamingos stand on one leg in an effort to conserve body heat.
- Flamingos are generally non-migratory birds.
- Flamingos did not breed well in captivity until it was discovered that adult plumage color played an important part in breeding.
Last Update:Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at 12:42:00
