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Chilean Flamingo

 

 

Phoenicopterus chilensis

Class: Aves Order: Phoenicopteriformes Family:Phoenicopteridae

Size

Height:  2.6 – 4.8 feet
Weight :5.5 – 7.7 pounds
Wing Span: 4.1 – 5 feet

Lifespan

40-50 years

Diet

 Mainly feeding on invertebrates like brine flies, shrimps, and mollusks, they also consume blue-green algae, aquatic plants, seeds, insect larvae, and small worms.

Habitat & Range

They inhabit muddy, shallow, salty lakes in warm tropical regions, coastal areas, and high-altitude Andes in South America.

Interesting Facts

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The Chilean flamingo is a tall bird with a long neck, small head, pale pink plumage, and a distinctive bill. Smaller than the Caribbean flamingo, it has gray legs with pink bands at the joints.

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All flamingos feed with their bills upside down, submerging their heads in water to filter feed. Using specialized, hair-like structures in the upper bill, they efficiently collect the microorganisms that form their diet.

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Similar to other South American flamingos, these birds can withstand cold climates.

Conservation Status

Threatened

Threats

Chilean flamingos face threats from habitat loss, environmental degradation, harvesting, and human disturbances.