Photo: Iain and Sarah / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
James’s Flamingo
Phoenicoparrus jamesi
James's Flamingo (Phoenicoparrus jamesi) — Grebes, Loons & Flamingos of South America.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The James’s Flamingo (Phoenicoparrus jamesi) is a member of the Phoenicopteridae family found in South America. Adults weigh 2 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 Phoenicoparrus
- Species jamesi
Where it lives
Southern Peru, western Bolivia, northern Chile and northwestern Argentina
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic plant-eaters
- Family
- Phoenicopteridae
- Order
- Phoenicopteriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The James’s Flamingo feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The James’s Flamingo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The James’s Flamingo (Phoenicoparrus jamesi) is a species of bird in the Phoenicopteridae family, part of the order Phoenicopteriformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA s Peru, w Bolivia, n Chile and nw Argentina.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2 kg, with a wing length of about 41.2 cm and a tail of around 14.8 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.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 273,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the James’s Flamingo?
The James’s Flamingo is a very large bird that weighs around 2 kg.
Where does the James’s Flamingo live?
The James’s Flamingo is found across South America with a range covering SA s Peru, w Bolivia, n Chile and nw Argentina, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the James’s Flamingo belong to?
The James’s Flamingo (Phoenicoparrus jamesi) belongs to the Phoenicopteridae family, in the order Phoenicopteriformes.
What does the James’s Flamingo eat?
The James’s Flamingo feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Does the James’s Flamingo migrate?
The James’s Flamingo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the James’s 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 James’s Flamingo make?
1 real field recording of the James’s 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 James’s Flamingo's range?
The James’s Flamingo has a mapped global range of about 273,000 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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