Photo: Haplochromis / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Chilean Flamingo
Phoenicopterus chilensis
Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis) — Grebes, Loons & Flamingos of South America.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis) is a member of the Phoenicopteridae family found in South America. Adults weigh 2.3 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Phoenicopteriformes
- Family Phoenicopteridae Flamingos
- Genus Phoenicopterus
- Species chilensis
Where it lives
Central Peru to Tierra del Fuego east to southern Brazil, Uruguay and central Argentina
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2.3 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Phoenicopteridae
- Order
- Phoenicopteriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Chilean Flamingo hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Chilean Flamingo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis) is a species of bird in the Phoenicopteridae family, part of the order Phoenicopteriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA c Peru to Tierra del Fuego e to s Brazil, Uruguay and c Argentina.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2.3 kg, with a wing length of about 40.2 cm and a tail of around 13.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Chilean Flamingo?
The Chilean Flamingo is a very large bird that weighs around 2.3 kg.
Where does the Chilean Flamingo live?
The Chilean Flamingo is found across South America with a range covering SA c Peru to Tierra del Fuego e to s Brazil, Uruguay and c Argentina, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Chilean Flamingo belong to?
The Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis) belongs to the Phoenicopteridae family, in the order Phoenicopteriformes.
What does the Chilean Flamingo eat?
The Chilean Flamingo hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Chilean Flamingo migrate?
The Chilean Flamingo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Chilean Flamingo endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Chilean Flamingo make?
1 real field recording of the Chilean Flamingo — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Chilean Flamingo's range?
The Chilean Flamingo has a mapped global range of about 3.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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