Chilean Flamingo
NameChilean Flamingo
Common NameChilean Flamingo
Scientific NamePhoenicopterus chilensis
FamilyPhoenicopteridae
Wingspan (cm)145
Length (cm)107.5
Weight (g)3000
Plumage DetailsThe plumage is generally pale pink, with brighter carmine-red secondary coverts that are visible when the wings are folded. The primary and secondary flight feathers are black, visible during flight. Legs are greyish-pink with distinct pink hock joints, and the bill is pale pink with a prominent black tip.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include goose-like honking, grunting, and trumpeting sounds, often made in chorus by large flocks.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatswetland
Conservation Statusnear-threatened
Geographic RangeFound in temperate South America, from central Peru and Bolivia south through Chile and Argentina to Tierra del Fuego, and east to southern Brazil and Uruguay. Also occurs as an introduced species in some parts of Europe.
Identifying FeaturesPale pink plumage, Black-tipped bill, Red wing coverts (secondary coverts), Greyish-pink legs with pink hock joints
Description
The Chilean Flamingo is a large, pale pink wading bird with long legs and a distinctive bent bill. It is typically found in large flocks in saline and brackish wetlands, where it filter-feeds on small aquatic organisms.
