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Chilean flamingo


Chilean flamingo
Photo Information
Copyright: Ricardo Kuehn (ryyck) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 24 W: 0 N: 176] (994)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-12
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 400D
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Flamingoes [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-12-10 8:58
Viewed: 1255
Points: 8
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Chilean flamingo
Phoenicopterus chilensis

TAXONOMY

Phoenicopterus chilensis Molina, 1782, Chile.



OTHER COMMON NAMES

French: Flamant du Chili; German: Chileflamingo; Spanish: Flamenco Chileno.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

38–42 in (96–107 cm); c. 5.0 lb (2.3 kg); female approximately 10% smaller than male. Smaller than the greater flamingo, with overall coloring similar to that of the European-African-Asian population, though pinker on the neck and breast. The inner third of the bill is pink, the remainder black, while legs are pink with darker pink joints. Chicks covered in gray down when born; may retain gray markings, at least in part, or develop white plumage that remains until two to three years of age. The juvenile is gray-brown.

DISTRIBUTION

Central Peru south through Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina to Tierra del Fuego.

HABITAT

Shallow saline and alkaline lakes and lagoons.

BEHAVIOR

Gregarious, with group displays involving ritualized movements of head and wings, accompanied by loud calls. In flocks of a few hundred to tens of thousands.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Sieves aquatic invertebrates, seeds, algae, and diatoms from shallow water and mud.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Lays single egg (chakly-white, goose-sized) on mud nest close to or in shallow water, the time of breeding being dictated by rainfall rather than seasons. Nests in dense colonies, up to several thousands of pairs. Incubation period 27–31 days; fledging 70–80 days. Both parents incubate and care for young, which gather into groups. Productivity very variable, with complete failures in some years.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened. Egg-harvesting and habitat destruction have caused declines at some colonies, but overall status probably stable.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

Egg-harvesting and perhaps some hunting.


http://www.answers.com/Phoenicopterus%20chilensis
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Ricardo,
Nice capture, well composed shot, well satrated colours & excellent sharpness, lack something of information of the photo
Salutacions cordials.

Hi Ricardo,
Excellent details, nice pose of Chilean flamingo!!
I love this shot very much!!
Thanks for sharing this beautiful photo.
Regards,
Kevin

amazing pale pink, perfect pic, TFS Ori

Hi Ricardo

Lovely shot. Good clarity and sharpness. Nice colours. TFS.

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