Facts about the Chilean Flamingo
Scientific Name: Phoenicopterus chilensis
Range & Habitat: High altitude lakes and lowlands in the Andes and other mountains, ranging from the central highlands of Peru to Argentina
Size: 39-43 inches
Incubation: About 30-32 days
Wild Diet: Small organisms, crustaceans and algae
Zoo Diet: Mazuri flamingo diet
Habits: Flamingos breed in large colonies, usually in or near water. The nest is built of mud and other materials and formed into a cone with a depression in the top to hold the eggs. Young birds are nourished by a liquid secreted by the parents until their own special feeding mechanisms develop.
Often stand on one leg for long periods while the other leg is tucked beneath the body, reducing heat loss. In the middle of the leg is the ankle, however it is often mistaken for the knee joint because of location.
Wade with necks lowered and heads upside down, sweeping from side to side. Tiny organisms and algae are filtered from the water by an arrangement of special bristles in the bill. The flamingos filter out the food particles without swallowing the salt water, preferring more salt-free water for drinking.
Their pink or red coloration results from a dye extracted from foods like algae and shrimp.
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