Justification This species is apparently declining moderately rapidly owing to egg-harvesting, hunting, disturbance and the degradation of its habitat. It is consequently classified as Near Threatened.

Family/Sub-family Phoenicopteridae

Species name author Molina, 1782

Taxonomic source(s) SACC (2005 + updates), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Stotz et al. (1996)

Identification

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

200,000

decreasing

2,940,000 km²

No

Range & population Phoenicopterus chilensis breeds in central Peru (apparently erratically, irregularly and in small numbers)⁴, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile and perhaps erratically in Paraguay (at least one breeding record)¹, with a few wintering in Uruguay and south-east Brazil, and vagrants in Ecuador and the Falkland Islands (Malvinas). In the mid-1970s, the population was estimated at 500,000 birds, but more recent figures of 100,000 in Argentina, up to 30,000 in Chile, and tens of thousands in Peru and Bolivia, suggest that no more than 200,000 individuals persist. Undoubtedly declining, its perceived extent is perhaps misleading, and may partially reflect improved census methods³.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: It occurs on coastal mudflats, estuaries, lagoons and salt-lakes at elevations up to 4,500 m. Breeding habitat is typified by the presence of suitable salinities and islands with extensive surrounding mudflats - conditions that do not occur each year. At Mar Chiquita, birds bred in only nine of the 26 years to 1999⁵.

Threats It has probably been subject to intensive egg-harvesting since the arrival of humans in South America and, in recent years, egg-collectors have been responsible for the partial or complete failure of colonies in Bolivia^2,3. Mar Chiquita (Argentina), perhaps the most important breeding site, is threatened by abstraction of water for irrigation projects⁵. Mining has wrought extensive habitat alteration, and the species also suffers from hunting and tourism-related disturbance².

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix II. CMS Appendix II.

Conservation measures proposed Extend and continue simultaneous surveys during breeding season to monitor population. Introduce measures to control intensive egg-harvesting.

References 1. R. P. Clay in litt. (2000). 2. Flamingo CAP Questionnaire (1998). 3. del Hoyo (1992). 4. M. A. Plenge in litt. (1999).

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), David Capper (BirdLife International), John Pilgrim (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors Rob P Clay (Guyra Paraguay), Manuel A. Plenge

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Phoenicopterus chilensis. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 10/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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