Justification This species is listed as Vulnerable because it has undergone a rapid population decline owing to ongoing exploitation and declines in habitat quality. Although exploitation has decreased, the longevity and slow breeding of flamingos suggest that the legacy of past threats may persist through generations to come.

Family/Sub-family Phoenicopteridae

Species name author Philippi, 1854

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

Synonyms Phoenicopterus andinus Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Phoenicopterus andinus Collar et al. (1994)

Identification 102-110 cm. Large flamingo. Pale pink body with brighter upperparts, deep vinaceous-pink lower neck, breast and wing-coverts. Large, black, triangular patch of primaries visible when perched. Pale yellow and black bill. Yellow legs. Immature greyish with bold streaks in the upperparts. Similar spp. Other flamingos differ in size, leg colour and tertial colour. Voice Nasal, raspy calls in colonies.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

34,000

decreasing

189,000 km²

No

Range & population Phoenicoparrus andinus occurs on the high Andean plateaus of Peru, Chile, Bolivia and Argentina, with a resident population of c.100 at Laguna Mar Chiquita, Córdoba, lowland Argentina^2,8. It breeds at c.10 localities, notably Laguna Colorada and other salt-lakes in south-west Bolivia, Laguna de Salinas (Peru) and Salar de Atacama (Chile)^3,9,11. Breeding has just been recorded for the first time in Argentina (Laguna Brava), but may only occur during strong El Niño years¹³. Population assessments are difficult and vary greatly^3,5,6,12, but 50,000-100,000 individuals¹⁰ may have been realistic until the mid-1980s. The 34,000 estimated in 1997¹⁰, suggests that it declined rapidly during the preceding 10-15 years³. Breeding success appears to be consistently low³, and thus declines may continue for many years, because flamingos have a high longevity (20-50 years)⁴.

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

Ecology: It is largely restricted to high mountain alkaline and salt-lakes, at 2,300-4,500 m. It may be nomadic in search of temporally patchy food supplies (mainly diatoms⁴). It breeds colonially, laying only one egg (unless first egg predated), mainly in December-February^4,11.

Threats The collecting of eggs to sell as food was intensive in the mid-20th century and the early 1980s, with thousands taken annually^6,7. Mining activities, unfavourable water-levels (owing to weather and manipulation), erosion of nest-sites and human disturbance may also affect productivity³. Outside protected areas in Bolivia, there is a low level of hunting for food, oils and feathers, especially targeting immatures and juveniles^10,11.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix II. CMS Appendix I. Breeding occurs in Salinas and Aguada Blanca Nature Reserve, Peru¹⁴, Salar de Atacama National Flamingo Reserve⁴, Chile, Las Chinchillas Provincial Natural Reserve, Argentina, and Eduardo Avaroa National Faunal Reserve, Bolivia, with a protected non-breeding site at Laguna de los Pozuelos Natural Monument, Argentina³. Conservation actions, locally including habitat management, prevention of egg-collecting and raising public awareness, are being undertaken^3,11.

Conservation measures proposed Continue surveying high Andean salt-lakes¹ to monitor known populations and locate additional ones. Protect more sites and raise the status of existing reserves^10,11. Guard unprotected nest-sites¹⁰.

References 1. J. C. Chebez in litt. (1999). 2. Cobos et al. (1999). 3. Flamingo Action Plan Questionnaire (1998). 4. del Hoyo (1992). 5. Hurlbert (1978). 6. Hurlbert (1981). 7. Johnson (1965). 8. Michelutti (1994). 9. Rocha (1994). 10. Rocha and Quiroga (1997). 11. O. Rocha in litt. (2000). 12. Scott and Carbonell (1986). 13. Bucher et al. (2000). 14. Ugarte-Nunez and Mosaurieta-Echegaray (2000).

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

Contributors J. C. Chebez, Omar Rocha (Wildlife Conservation Society)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Phoenicoparrus andinus. 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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