Phoenicoparrus andinus
Andean flamingo

Phoenicoparrus andinus (Andean flamingo) is found in the Chilean Andes of South America, which includes southern Peru, north-central Chile, western Bolivia, and northwestern Argentina. (Fjeldsa and Krabbe, 1990; SeaWorld Adventure Parks, 2002)

Andean flamingos live in highland salt lakes of the Andes mountains from 2,500 to 4,950 m above sea level, but usually occuring between 3500 and 4500 meters elevation. Their habitat mainly consists of large alkaline or saline lagoons with soft sediment bottoms. These habitats are often characterized by relatively sparse vegetation. In winter these flamingos may move to lower elevations in search of food. Of the three types of flamingos living in the Andes (Chilean flamingo, James’ flamingo and Andean flamingo), Andean flamingos live in the most diverse set of habitats. (del Hoyo, 1992; Fjeldsa and Krabbe, 1990; ; Mascitti and Bonaventura, 2002)

Andean flamingos have the typical flamingo form with long, thin legs and neck. The average Andean flamingo stands 1 to 1.4 meters tall with a wingspan of 1 to 1.6 meters, and a weight of 1.5 to 4.1 kg. Plumage is light pink, with the head, neck, and upper breast a darker red. The curved bill is yellow and black. They have three-forward pointing toes, lacking their fourth toe. Juvenile Andean flamingos are grey before they develop their light pink plumage. These are the only species of flamingo with yellow legs and a red spot between the nostrils. They also have very deep bills and stiff lamellae on the lower jaw to help filter fine particles for consumption and keep other larger particles out. (Banney, et al., 2004; del Hoyo, 1992; Thomson, 1964; Zoological Society of San Diego, 2005)

Flamingos are monogamous for several seasons. Male flamingos display their feathers and plumage in an effort to court females. (Zoological Society of San Diego, 2005; Zoological Society of San Diego, 2005)

Andean flamingos breed in December and January, variation may be related to rainfall patterns. Andean flamingos begin breeding once they have become fully colored adults, usually at three to six years old. Flamingos breed colonially, with up to thousands of individuals, sometimes in mixed-species groups with Phoenicopterus chilensis or Phoenicoparrus jamesi. Breeding groups of as few as 50 have been observed. (del Hoyo, 1992; Zoological Society of San Diego, 2005)

Flamingo nests are made purely of mud. Flamingos scoop up mounds of mud with their beaks and then smooth the mound with their feet. They then form a small, cone shaped bowl on the top. A small moat is dug around the nest. Nests are often reused, and built close together. These nests generally stand around 0.31m in height. (del Hoyo, 1992; Zoological Society of San Diego, 2005)

Andean flamingos lay just one egg at a time. The egg is a pinkish white color, and is incubated by both parents for 27-31 days. The average egg is around seven centimeters long and weighs approximately 113-141 grams. (del Hoyo, 1992; Zoological Society of San Diego, 2005)

Newly hatched flamingos are covered in white/grey down feathers. They live in the nest for the next five to eight days before forming crèches (groups of chicks). These crèches, which can contain hundreds of chicks, are taken care of by only a few adult flamingos. It takes six to ten months before chicks are ready to fend for themselves. For several months adults feed their young "crop milk", food and secretions from the parent's crop. (del Hoyo, 1992; ; Zoological Society of San Diego, 2005)

Both parents incubate the eggs and care for the young. Hatchlings are cared for communally in creches by a rotating set of flock adults. Parents come to the creches throughout the day to find and feed their young, individual recognition doesn't seem to pose a problem. Hatchling flamingos are fed by their parents for an extended time, even after their beaks have become fully functional for filtering food. (Zoological Society of San Diego, 2005)

The lifespan Andean flamingos in the wild is unknown. They are believed to live for twenty to thirty years. In captivity some flamingos have lived to 60 years old.

Andean flamingos are highly gregarious, forming large flocks of tens of thousands of birds. The only typical form of aggression is between males when mate guarding. Andean flamingos move among ponds and lagoons throughout the year, in search of food. They may tend to occur at lower elevations during the winter. They are active during the day. (Fjeldsa and Krabbe, 1990)

There are many ways in which flamingos communicate with each other. One is the wing salute where they spread their wings for a couple seconds, showing off its colors. They also stretch the neck and flip up its tail. Vocalizations are common. A honking vocalization, similar to the sounds that geese make in flight, is used to keep groups together. They also growl and grunt while mating and during aggression. (del Hoyo, 1992; Fjeldsa and Krabbe, 1990)

Andean flamingos use filter feeding to capture small particles at the sediment/water interface. They have narrow and deep lower mandibles which allow them to capture small particles, most commonly diatoms (in the family Bacillariophyceae, genus Surirella) and algae, such as blue-green algae Spirulina plantensis. (SeaWorld Adventure Parks, 2002; Thomson, 1964; SeaWorld Adventure Parks, 2002; Thomson, 1964)

There are not many predators of Andean flamingos. Culpeo foxes (Pseudalopex culpaeus) may take eggs or newly hatched young. Large, predatory birds may also sometimes take young flamingos. Humans have also been known to hunt flamingos and collect their eggs. Andean miners once believed that the fat of flamingos was a cure for tuberculosis. (del Hoyo, 1992; Mascitti and Bonaventura, 2002)

Andean flamingos impact populations of aquatic algae, diatoms, and plankton. (Banney, et al., 2004)

Andean flamingos have been exploited by humans rarely in the past, probably because they tend to live and breed in remote, bleak areas. (del Hoyo, 1992)

There are no negative impacts of Andean flamingos on humans.

Andean flamingos are considered vulnerable and are difficult to breed in captivity. Northern Chilean populations were severely decimated by a drought. They are now protected by being listed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, and the Convention on Migratory Species. A separate and self-sustaining population of Andean flamingos is being kept at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in the United Kingdom. (Mascitti and Bonaventura, 2002)