Chilean Flamingo

The Chilean Flamingo is a medium-large, pale pink flamingo native to South America. Its plumage is generally softer and paler than the American Flamingo's, though wing coverts still show a rich pink-red. The most distinctive feature is its two-toned legs, which are grayish overall with contrasting bright pink or red "knee" joints, unlike the uniformly pink legs of most other flamingo species.

It breeds and forages in large flocks across a wide range of South American wetlands, from lowland coastal lagoons to high Andean lakes.

Key field marks

• Pale pink body plumage with deeper pink wing coverts
• Gray legs with bright pink leg joints, a diagnostic feature
• Bill pale with a black tip, similar in shape to other flamingos

Similar species

• American Flamingo has uniformly pink legs and much deeper overall coloring.
• Andean Flamingo has yellow legs and more black in the wings.
• James's Flamingo is smaller with brick-red legs and a shorter, mostly yellow bill.

Habitat

Uses a wide range of wetlands including coastal lagoons, estuaries, high Andean salt lakes, and inland marshes.

Range

Found across South America from Ecuador and Peru south through Chile and Argentina to Tierra del Fuego.

Migration

Some populations move seasonally between lowland wintering areas and high-altitude Andean breeding lakes.

Behavior

Feeds in large, gregarious flocks, wading through shallow water and sweeping its bill through mud and water to filter food.

Voice

Loud honking and gabbling calls, similar to other flamingo species, given especially at breeding colonies.

Feeding

Filters algae, aquatic invertebrates, and small crustaceans from mud and shallow water using its specially adapted bill.

Nesting

Breeds colonially on mud mounds in shallow lakes and salt flats; lays a single white egg.