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Andean Flamingo (Phoenicoparrus andinus)

IUCN Classification: VU (Vulnerable)

Population: 33,000 (1997 - declined by 30% in three generations since the mid-1980s. This is attributed to ongoing exploitation and declines in habitat quality). Possibly the rarest flamingo species in the world.

Description: Similar in size (102 - 110cm) to the Chilean Flamingo the adult has its head, neck and upper breast strongly coloured wine-red which breaks up into spotting on the lower breast. There are pinky red feathers in the wings which show up in flight contrasting with the black outer feathers. The bill is yellow at the base, the outer half being black and there is a distinctive red spot between the two nostrils on the upper mandible. The iris is orange brown while the legs and feet are yellow. The downy young and juveniles go through similar plumage phases as other species. The distinguishing almost purplish-red colouration on the head and neck of the Andean distinguishes it from other kinds of flamingo.

Habitat: The Andean flamingo is restricted to a small area of the Andean altiplano in southern Peru, northern Chile, western Bolivia and north-western Argentina (192,000 km2). This range overlaps almost entirely with the James' flamingo and with the northern range of the Chilean Flamingo. Principally it is found in high altitude soda lakes ranging from 3500m to 4500m elevation. It may be nomadic in search of temporally patchy food supplies (mainly diatoms). It breeds colonially, laying only one egg (unless first egg predated), mainly in December-February. Breeding locations (about 10) include the Salar de Atacama (Chile), salt lakes of Surire, Coposa and Huasco in Chile and Laguna Colorada in SW Bolivia.

Threats: Egg-collecting, mining activities, unfavorable water-levels, erosion of nest-sites and human disturbance, atmospheric pollutions & global warming. In Bolivia, there is a low level of hunting for food, oils and feathers, especially targeting immatures and juveniles.

Conservation: Protection of nesting locations (and raising status of existing sites), habitat management, prevention of egg-collecting (guard nest sites) and raising public awareness, continued surveying high Andean salt-lakes to monitor known populations and locate additional ones.

Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis)

IUCN Classification: NT (Near Threatened)

Population: 200,000 (known to be declining)

Description: Like the greater flamingo in size and colouring though slightly smaller. Adult birds are very pale pink fading to white on the head, with long bright crimson feathers drooping over its back. During breeding season the lower neck and breast are tinged with a bright rosy suffusion. The legs are yellowish-grey with contrasting bright pink joints and feet (leading to its other common name; the red kneed flamingo). The black tip on the bill extends back to just beyond the bend, the rest being whitish or very pale pink. Yellow iris. There is quite a lot of colouration in the red forewing when the bird is in flight, though not quite as bright as in the Caribbean. The downy young, juvenile and immature plumages are extremely similar to the other species.

Habitat: The Chilean is the most widespread and numerous of the South American species. It occurs from the highlands of central Peru down to the Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of the continent - a distance of over 4000 miles. There is concentration of breeding locations in the high Andes of northern Chile and Western Bolivia, the extreme south of Peru and north-western Argentina. These lie between 3500 and 4500 meters and include the enormous Salar de Uyuni. Breeding habitat is typified by the presence of suitable salinities and islands with extensive surrounding mudflats. Main locations include Lago Mar Chiquita (Argentina), Salar de Uyuni, (Bolivia) and Salar de Surire (Chile). It has also occurred in Paraguay, Uruguay, Ecuador and Brazil.

Threats: subject to intensive egg-harvesting and egg-collectors have been responsible for the partial or complete failure of some breeding colonies. Mar Chiquita (Argentina), perhaps the most important breeding site, is threatened by abstraction of water for irrigation projects. Mining has wrought extensive habitat alteration, and the species also suffers from hunting and tourism-related disturbance.

Conservation: As above; increased protection of breeding colonies (guarding where necessary), continued monitoring and raising of awareness.

James' (Puna) Flamingo (Phoenicoparrus jamesi)

IUCN Classification: NT (Near Threatened)

Population: 64,000 (2002 - believed to be increasing)

Description: The smallest of the three South America flamingos and only marginally larger than the lesser flamingo of Africa. It has whitish plumage delicately suffused with pink. The rose-red scapulars drooping over the black wings and tail are elongated with long, narrow tips. In the breeding season there is a broad band of carmine spots on the breast. The legs and feet are orange and the bill is the most coloured of all the flamingos. The tip is black and the inner two-thirds are orangey-yellow. The latter is separated from the birds face by a narrow carmine band which extends back to around the eye. In flight all the main flight feathers are black, including those closest to the body which in the other species are red. The forewing is red as in the other species.

Habitat: The James' flamingo has the most restricted distribution of the six species. Similar to the Andean it is found on the high altitude salt-lakes of the high-Andes in the extreme south of Peru, western Bolivia, and northern Chile and Argentina. The main breeding site for James' flamingo is at Laguna Colorada in SW Bolivia

Threats: Habitat loss/degradation through mining, human disturbance through recreation and tourism, subsistence hunting and atmospheric pollution (including global warming)

Conservation: As above; increased protection of breeding colonies (guarding where necessary), continued monitoring and raising of awareness.

Other species of flamingo

The Carribean Flamingo (LC - lowest concern) as its name suggests inhabits salt lakes of the coastal areas of the Carribean and Central America. The Greater flamingo (LC - lowest concern) is the largest with the widest worldwide distribution ranging from India to Senegal, France to Namibia. The Lesser flamingo (NT - near threatened) is the smallest with its habitat concentrated in the Rift valley soda lakes of Africa.