Birds
Andean Flamingo
Phoenicoparrus andinus · also called Andean flamingos
Breeding on remote salt flats where nights drop well below freezing, an Andean flamingo survives conditions that would challenge almost any other filter-feeding wetland bird, holding on as the rarest flamingo species left on Earth.
Overview
The Andean flamingo, Phoenicoparrus andinus, is a Vulnerable waterbird native to wetland and mountain habitat across the high Andes of Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru. Its status as the rarest flamingo species in the world, its distinctive yellow legs, and its tolerance for freezing high-altitude nights make it one of the more remarkable and conservation-critical flamingo species found anywhere on the planet.
A flamingo built for the harshest salt flats
While most flamingos are associated with warm, gentle wetlands, the Andean flamingo instead breeds on some of the coldest, most remote salt flats in the world, a combination of altitude and isolation that has helped push it toward the rarest status of any flamingo species.
Status
Vulnerable, with the smallest population of any flamingo species, further pressured by mining activity and water extraction at the remote high-altitude salt flats it depends on for breeding.
Andean Flamingo: common questions
Is the Andean flamingo the rarest flamingo species?
Yes, this species is considered the rarest of all flamingo species, with a total population smaller than any of its relatives found elsewhere in the world.
How does the Andean flamingo survive such cold conditions?
This species survives overnight temperatures that can drop well below freezing at the high altitudes where it breeds, an unusual challenge for a filter-feeding wetland bird.
How can you identify an Andean flamingo?
This species has distinctive yellow legs, a feature that sets it apart from other South American flamingo species, which typically have pink or grey-toned legs instead.
Why is the Andean flamingo considered Vulnerable?
This species is vulnerable to disturbance from mining activity and water extraction at the remote high-altitude salt flats it depends on for breeding, threatening an already small population.