the pheasant cuckoo ( dromococcyx phasianellus ) is a species of neotropical cuckoo in the subfamily neomorphinae of the cuculidae family .

it is native to central and south america where it occurs in lowland tropical forest .

pheasant cuckoo

hunterstyle hand carved cuckoo clock with very carefullyl handcrafted dear , rabbit and pheasant .
pheasant cuckoo ( dromococcyx phasianellus ) is a species of bird in the cuculidae family .
rombach and haas 1 day black forest pheasant top cuckoo clock 1207 - all about time , inc .
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the pheasant coucal is the only australian cuckoo to build its own nest . it also lives and nests on the ground , unlike other cuckoos .
the pheasant cuckoo ranges from southern mexico to argentina , throughout forested regions of central america and the middle and southern amazon basin . in panama , the pheasant cuckoo can be found along the pacific slope and canal area . uncommon and local , its true distribution is not well known due to its highly secretive behaviors .
range : the pheasant cuckoo is found from s mexico to panama , colombia , venezuela , the guianas , ecuador , brazil and amazonian peru , and then , in bolivia , paraguay and n argentina .
the pheasant cuckoo is a terrestrial species , but it flies well and quickly , and even silently during the territorial displays . nothing is known about migrations but this species is probably resident in its range .
this phase lasts 2 - 15 seconds or longer , according to the type of prey . then , the pheasant cuckoo starts a new sequence “bob - rush - peck” . it may forage for several hours every day .
the pheasant cuckoo female lays a dull white or pale buff egg with some rufous spots in the nest of the chosen host while this one is absent . the host species will provide parental care to egg and chick until the young bird becomes independent . the young cuckoo probably ejects host’s eggs and / or chicks from the nest .
when the cuckoo nestling hatches , it instinctively pushes the other eggs and nestlings out of the nest .
common cuckoo is not the only brood parasite in the family . some tropical american species , such as striped cuckoo and pheasant cuckoo , also lay eggs in the nests of other birds . and so do yellow - billed and black - billed cuckoos — sometimes . while yellow - billed cuckoo normally raises its own young , it lays eggs in the nests of other birds surprisingly often . other yellow - billed or black - billed cuckoos are the most frequent hosts , but it has been known to target at least 10 other species , from robins to cardinals .
the pheasant cuckoo is rare and difficult to see as it does not move much and remains inconspicuous . it favors terra firme forests and is known to range at elevations of up to 1000 m along the foothill of the andes . it also occurs in
habitat : the pheasant cuckoo frequents the understorey of the tropical lowland evergreen forest , but it also can be found in river - edge forest and tropical deciduous forest . this species can be seen from sea - level up to 1600 metres of elevation .
the pheasant coucal feeds on the ground on large insects , frogs , lizards , eggs and young of birds and , sometimes , small mammals .
protection / threats / status : the pheasant cuckoo has wide range , but the species is affected by changes and fragmentation of its habitat . however , it also benefits from new suitable habitat due to degradation of some areas . with its secretive and solitary behaviour , this species appears uncommon , rare or local . the global population was placed in the band 50 , 000 / 499 , 999 individuals in 2008 . it is suspected to be increasing . but currently , the pheasant cuckoo is evaluated as least concern .
the pheasant coucal is a large , long - tailed , pheasant - like cuckoo which occurs in northern and eastern australia , as well as southern new guinea and timor - leste . unlike most species of cuckoos , the pheasant coucal builds its own nest , a shallow platform of sticks and grass , into which it lays between two and five white eggs . the young coucals are fed by both sexes , but the male parent does most of the feeding , providing the nestlings with small vertebrates , such as frogs , and grasshoppers and other insects .
) in appearance and mannerisms , apparently frightening the potential host and allowing the cuckoo to approach the nest unmolested .
the female has a rich bubbling chuckle , but the male ' s call is the very familiar
cuckoo
.
pheasant cuckoo foraging behavior , with notes on habits and possible social organization in panama pdf from researchgate by kathryn e . sieving - journal of field ornithology , 1990 department of ecology , ethology and evolution university of illinois shelford vivarium 606 east healey st . champaign , illinois 61820 usa
the cuckoo call on half and full hours , the music plays on the full hour whereas the hand painted figurerines dancing .
when perched , usually in the open at the top of a tree , the cuckoo drops its wings below the level of its tail , as in the photograph . the best places to see cuckoo are grassland , reed beds , and edges of woodland .
this is the first record of pheasant cuckoo from bci in decades ! it is one of the large - bodied wet forest birds that famously disappeared a few decades after lago gatun ( in which bci is situated ) was created . presumably this same bird was present for 2 years after its initial discovery .
in flight , the cuckoo can be easily mistaken for a sparrowhawk or kestrel , because it has swept - back wings and long tail . however , sparrowhawks do not have pointed wings like the cuckoo , and the kestrel is streaked and not barred on the underparts .
the cuckoo is a brood parasite , it lays its eggs in other birds ' nests and leaves the host birds to incubate and rear its young . dunnocks , robins and meadow pipits are frequent host birds . each female cuckoo specialises in using a particular host species and will lay eggs with similar markings to the host bird ' s eggs , and the young cuckoo will imitate the begging calls of the host ' s chicks .
mimicry , in which the cuckoo egg resembles that of the host , thus minimizing rejection by the host ; removal of one or more host eggs by the adult cuckoo , reducing both the competition from host nestlings and the danger of recognition by the host that an egg has been added to the nest ; and nest - mate ejection , in which the young cuckoo heaves from the nest the host’s eggs and nestlings . some species of
pheasant coucals have benefited from land clearing where weedy thickets have grown up , especially of blackberry or lantana . however have been adversely affected by widening urban development and where overgrazing by livestock has occurred .
pheasant cuckoo rattling sounds during foraging . these sounds apparently are produced by vibration of the wing and tail feathers , and vocalization . these sounds accompany body , wing and tail movements that apparently function in flushing potential prey . then the typical song : two introductory whistles of successive higher pitch followed by a trill ( whee whee wheerr - rr ) .
generally , if you hear a cuckoo singing you will probably not see it until it stops singing , which is when it flies away from its song post .
…two very distinct families , the cuckoo s ( cuculidae ) and the hoatzin ( opisthocomidae ) . family cuculidae is the much larger group , containing about 140 species of cuckoo s , roadrunners , coucals , couas , malkohas , guiras , and anis ; cuculids are found in the tropical and temperate zones of all the continents
a large ' pheasant - like ' , ground - dwelling cuckoo , the pheasant coucal has a long tail and short rounded wings . in its breeding plumage , it has a black head , neck and underbody with the upperparts and wings reddish - brown with black and cream barring and the black tail is barred orange . out of breeding , the head and back return to a reddish chestnut colour and the underparts are cinnamon brown , with all streaked boldly white . the eye is red . sexes are similar in plumage , but females are larger than males . young birds look like paler , non - breeding adults with orange spots on the head , neck and upper body . when disturbed , coucals run rather than fly , or fly clumsily , plunging into cover . unlike most other cuckoos , the pheasant coucal is not a nest parasite .
payne , r . ( 2018 ) . pheasant cuckoo ( dromococcyx phasianellus ) . in : del hoyo , j . , elliott , a . , sargatal , j . , christie , d . a . & de juana , e . ( eds . ) . handbook of the birds of the world alive . lynx edicions , barcelona . ( retrieved from urltoken on 9 july 2018 ) .
reproduction of this species : the breeding season may vary according to the range , but the male sings from march to august in mexico and from april to july in panama . the pheasant cuckoo is a brood parasite , and its hosts are typically passerines which make covered , domed nests . this type of nest is that of tyrannid flycatchers of genera tolmomyias , myiozetetes , rhynchocyclus , fluvicola and thamnophilus .
cuckoos belong to the family cuculidae , well known for parasitic behaviour where they lay their eggs in other nests and leave the chick rearing to other birds . not all of them practice this parasitic behaviour . in australia the pheasant coucal and the brush cuckoos build their own nests . the channel - bill cuckoo and the koel mostly use black and white birds to rear their young . it is not uncommon to see a channel - billed cuckoo following crows or a common koel with peewees . the smaller cuckoos are known to use host nests from wrens , thornbills , warblers and honeyeaters .
pheasant cuckoos also have some other interesting behaviors . males are territorial , and in response to singing males , they will raise their head and crest , puff out their breast feathers , partially extend their wings and arch their tail coverts . even more interesting , the pheasant cuckoo has a unique , stylized foraging behavior . it descends to the ground , walks in the leaf litter and produces rattling sounds by vibrating its wings , body and tail feathers , as well as bill clapping . it bobs its body then lunges forward , taking several short steps , picking at insects among the leaf litter . it feeds on arthropods and small vertebrates such as lizards . it is also known to eat small nestling birds .
this charming and inexpensive cuckoo clock is one of our most popular models . the leaves and birds are hand carved from solid linden wood . when the clock strikes the hour or half - hour the door opens , a cuckoo appears and calls along with the clock ' s gong strike . at the same time , the two birds below move to feed the baby chicks in the nest .
behaviour in the wild : the pheasant cuckoo feeds on large insects such as grasshoppers , cicadas and beetles , but it also takes small lizards and nestling birds . the foraging behaviour of this species involves sounds and feather movements , probably used to flush the preys hidden in the vegetal cover and the leaf litter . a low rattle is produced by wing and tail feather vibration and bill - clapping . other fluttering noises are also heard during the distinct phases of the foraging behaviour .
calls and songs : sounds by xeno - canto the pheasant cuckoo utters melancholy whistles “se - sée - werrrrrr” with quavering note at the end . sometimes , the terminal trill is lacking in the song . it also gives series of “sah , she - si - see” notes rising in pitch . it often sings from elevated perch , usually outside the thick vegetal cover . other calls such as rattles , clucking and growling can be produced too , especially while searching for preys on the ground .
. the pheasant cuckoo is overall gray with a pale belly . the throat and breast are brownish with dark specks . it has a pale superciliary line from the base of the culmen to the nape , and a rufous crest . the tail is long , broad , and graduated . it has extremely long and ornate rump feathers and uppertail coverts . it forages on the ground where it extends the wings and tail to flush insects before it chases and catches them . it is very similar to the
, any of numerous birds of the family cuculidae ( order cuculiformes ) . the name usually designates some 60 arboreal members of the subfamilies cuculinae and phaenicophaeinae . in western europe “cuckoo , ” without modifiers , refers to the most
. . . bornean ground - cuckoo carpococcyx radiatus a widespread endemic , occurring in low densities ( long & collar 2002 ; mann 2008 ; payne 2005 ) . this species was heard at pj in 2005 . . . .
the family cuculidae is worldwide , found in temperate and tropical regions but is most diverse in the old world tropics . cuculids tend to be shy inhabitants of thick vegetation , more often heard than seen . many species are named for the sounds they make—e . g . , brain - fever bird ( a hawk cuckoo , cuculus varius ) , koel ( eudynamys scolopacea ) , and cuckoo itself , the latter two names being imitations of the bird’s song .
the pheasant cuckoo can be aggressive in territorial behaviour . a male responds to other singing male with strutting displays . head and crest are raised , the breast feathers are puffed out , and primaries and alula are partially extended to display the white spots while the uppertail - coverts are raised and argued . they make frequent pauses on logs and trees , while briefly gaining height over one another . after several minutes , the first male comes to the ground while the second male flies away from the area . other types of threat displays may occur .
since the early 1980s , the numbers of cuckoos has been in decline and this may be because the populations of some key host species , such as dunnock and meadow pipit , have also declined . consequently , the cuckoo is now red list species .
the pheasant coucal prefers dense understorey vegetation , particularly grasses , rushes , bracken and sedges , in open forests and woodlands , and around wetlands . often found in sugar cane plantations near wetlands , on farmlands with thick grasses and weed - infested thickets , such as lantana . often seen in parks , gardens and along roads or railway lines .
caterpillars and other insects such as beetles and ants form the major part of the cuckoo ' s diet . many of the caterpillars are the hairy or brightly coloured poisonous ones , but their digestive system is specially adapted to cope with the hairs and toxins .
pheasant cuckoos inhabit lowland tropical forest , and can be found in dense thickets , secondary growth forest and borders up to 1200 meters . rarely seen , they are vocal and are often heard . their call is similar to that of striped cuckoo , two clear notes followed by a quavering third note or sequence of two or three quick short notes . they call ventriloquially from branches in the lower and middle levels of the forest , in dense cover , and are often difficult to detect . in panama , they call most frequently from mid - april to july , during the onset of the wet season .
this clock is hand made in the black forest in germany . the mechanical brass movement is driven by two weights and time escapes with the tick of a traditional pendulum . the cuckoo call sound is made by two wooden whistles with bellows inside the clock case .
, found in all of the cuculinae and three species of phaenicophaeinae . it consists of laying the eggs singly in the nests of certain other bird species to be incubated by the foster parents , who rear the young cuckoo . among the 47 species of cuculines , various
. . . bornean ground - cuckoo carpococcyx radiatus borneo - endemic we heard this elusive species calling once on 15 march in the traditional forest at pinang jatus . glpf is a new locality for this species ( long & collar 2002 ; mann 2008 ) . . . .
the european cuckoo ( cuculus canorus ) is a brood parasite ; i . e . , it lays its eggs in the nests of other birds , which act as foster parents for the young cuckoos . the most frequent foster parents are various species of small songbirds . although the…
the pheasant coucal is found in northern and eastern australia , as well as new guinea and east timor . it is found from the pilbara , western australia , to south - eastern new south wales . in new south wales it is mainly found east of the great dividing range from the queensland border to the southern hunter region , with some around sydney and further south to illawarra .
when i was a boy , i used to hear cuckoos calling at summertime , but that is nearly 30 years ago and now they are essentially never heard . that said , on 8 th july 2006 , a cuckoo was heard calling at least 3 times , which was a real delight .
pheasant coucals form lasting pairs and , unlike other australian cuckoos , build their own nests and raise their young themselves . the nest is usually hidden in thick grass or sugar cane or in weedy thickets and is a platform of sticks , grass or rushes , lined with leaves and grasses . the male usually incubates the eggs and feeds the young , with the female helping with feeding . more than one clutch can be laid in one season .
. . . the total number of records is low but still considerably higher than in any previous study . both species are rarely seen and , islandwide , the total number of recent ( 1992–2002 ) localities number only nine and thirteen for bornean groundcuckoo and bornean peacock - pheasant , respectively ( collar et al . , 2001 ; long & collar , 2002 ; s . van balen , pers . comm ; gmf , unpubl . . . .
contributing editor kenn kaufman provides tips for identifying birds in every issue of birdwatching . in june 2014 , he tells what to look for to identify yellow - billed cuckoo — and to tell it from similar - looking black - billed and mangrove cuckoos . he also offers this interesting description of the yellow - billed’s unusual breeding habits :
. . . habitat : lumadan : mature rubber , new plantations , swamp , and dipterocarp forest . lumbidan : circumstantial evidence from specimens indicates peatswamp forest ( hooked - billed bulbul and grey - breasted babbler ) and lowland , riverine forest ( bornean ground cuckoo ) ( long and collar 2002 banks ( 1982 , pers . comm . ) . . .
. . . low obtained a few birds along the menggalong river as well . among birds collected in 1899 was bornean ground cuckoo ( long and collar 2002 ) . it is home to two of the most habitat - specific bird species in the state , hook - billed bulbul and white - throated babbler ( sheldon 1987 , holmes andwall 1989 ) . . . .
. . . comm . ) . most of the bornean ground - cuckoo vocalizations we heard are described in detail by long & collar ( 2002 ) , although we do not always share their interpretation of the function of the calls . the vocalization of bornean peacock - peasant has been described as a harsh loud double ' cack - cack ' ( r . sözer , pers . . . .
. . . reports from ksnp have found that amongst hunters and bird - trappers the sumatran ground cuckoo was not well known ( holden 1997 ) , possibly because this species is rare and therefore difficult to find or because it has an unpleasant taste and is therefore not targeted ( long and collar 2002 ) . however , the other terrestrial bird species recorded in this study may be more vulnerable to poaching . . . .
young yellow - billed cuckoos develop with amazing speed . the eggs hatch after only 9 - 11 days of incubation , and the young may be ready to leave the nest 8 days later , even though not full - grown then . ( for comparison , a robin’s incubation period is 12 - 14 days , and the young usually fledge in about 13 days . ) obviously , rapid development is an advantage for a brood parasite , since the cuckoo’s egg is laid later than those of the host , and the young bird must catch up to be fed by the foster parents . — kenn kaufman
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thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on the iucn red list of threatened species website , we are grateful for your input .
sacc . 2005 and updates . a classification of the bird species of south america . available at : urltoken .
justification : this species has an extremely large range , and hence does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the range size criterion ( extent of occurrence < 20 , 000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size , habitat extent / quality , or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation ) . the population trend appears to be stable , and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population trend criterion ( > 30 % decline over ten years or three generations ) . the population size is very large , and hence does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population size criterion ( < 10 , 000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be > 10 % in ten years or three generations , or with a specified population structure ) . for these reasons the species is evaluated as least concern .
partners in flight estimate the total population to number 50 , 000 - 499 , 999 individuals ( a . panjabi in litt . 2008 ) . trend justification : the population is suspected to be increasing as ongoing habitat degradation is creating new areas of suitable habitat .
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) , version 1 . 0 . in neotropical birds online ( t . s . schulenberg , editor ) . cornell lab of ornithology , ithaca , ny , usa .
camp site sepriato2 , cusco , coordinates - 11 . 49 , - 72 . 47
bird not seen but heared clearly for about 1 hour . for sure it was perched inside the bushes , about 50 m from my position .
the area presents very dense rainforest , with old trees , and some human intervention .
this bird sang two songs at about 10 : 15 and at about 10 : 25 , evidently from the ground . at 10 : 28 , i played two songs from xc83089 and within 10 seconds he flew in , landed on a branch about 5 m from the ground , and sang . after the five songs in this recording , he flew over our heads , landed in the forest farther away , and sang about eight more songs . between the third and fourth songs , i spliced - in some time from another part of the recording to replace talking by some people .
same bird as dropha06 . within 3 m of the ground in humid forest . reference : cxlviiia 51 - 66 ( dropha7 ) . krabbe & nilsson ( 2003 ) ( isbn 90 - 75838 - 06 - 9 ) .
within 3 m of the ground in humid forest . reference : cxlviiia 39 - 47 ( dropha6 ) . krabbe & nilsson ( 2003 ) ( isbn 90 - 75838 - 06 - 9 ) . filtered version on moore et al . ( 2013 ) urltoken
id certainty 100 % . ( archiv . tape 167 side b track 21 seq . b )
recording not modified . cloud forest el jaguar . bird singing at 10 m from the ground .
singing from 2 - 3m above the ground in reasonably open understory adjacent to the road .
close bird in primary forest at the edge of the lost world complex after playback of xc126037 .
extended cut . playback had been used , but bird did not seem to respond to it . habitat is advanced secondary forest , in a more open area with a watercourse .
same bird and session as xc123210 . natural song . habitat is advanced secondary forest , in a more open area with a watercourse .
natural song . signal improves through recording . habitat is advanced secondary forest , in a more open area with a watercourse .
natural vocalization ; songs from a bird perched mid - way up tall trees in dense gallery forest . after the first few song strophes it switches song types for the rest of the cut .
sonogram images © xeno - canto foundation . sonogram images share the same license terms as the recording they depict .
s mexico ( guerrero and veracruz to yucatán and chiapas ) to panama , colombia , venezuela , the guianas , ecuador , brazil and amazonian peru , then on to bolivia , paraguay and n argentina .
33–41 cm ; male 78–100 g , female 86·8–98·1 g . adult small - headed , thin - necked , dark brown above with scaly feathers , short rufous crest , white . . .
melancholy whistles , “se - sée - werrrrrr” , final note quavering ; also a four - note . . .
tropical lowland evergreen forest , flooded tropical evergreen forest , tropical deciduous forest , . . .
breeds apr–jun in oaxaca . brood - parasitic : hosts are birds laying in open or covered nests , include tyrant - flycatchers ( eye - ringed . . .
not globally threatened . widespread , but uncommon to rare and local ; secretive and solitary behaviour make it difficult to assess numbers and relative abundance , but species . . .
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hbw alive contains information on descriptive notes , voice , habitat , food and feeding , breeding , movements , status and conservation plus a list of bibliographical references for this species account .
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presumed territorial threat display from a male . i was between two ( apparent ) males engaged in the same behavior .
i spent a lot of time looking for this magnificent bird , but at the end i had great moments with him .
this wonderful bird show up for our group during our quick visit to chapada dos guimarães .
dave jackson , herve jacob , yoël jimenez , jacob . wijpkema , mauricio rueda , leonardo r . deconto , michael retter , josep del hoyo .
octavio rios , diego calderon - colombia birding , edson endrigo , gleboff31 , ken havard , arthur grosset , mauricio rueda , richardgreenhalgh031 , ciro albano , manakin nature tours , dave irving , dusan m . brinkhuizen .
peter boesman , leonardo r . deconto , josep del hoyo , mauricio rueda , ciro albano .
this species has an extremely large range , and hence does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the range size criterion ( extent of occurrence < 20 , 000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size , habitat extent / quality , or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation ) . the population trend appears to be stable , and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population trend criterion ( > 30 % decline over ten years or three generations ) . the population size is very large , and hence does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population size criterion ( < 10 , 000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be > 10 % in ten years or three generations , or with a specified population structure ) . for these reasons the species is evaluated as least concern .
recommended citation birdlife international ( 2018 ) species factsheet : dromococcyx phasianellus . downloaded from urltoken on 09 / 07 / 2018 . recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species : birdlife international ( 2018 ) iucn red list for birds . downloaded from urltoken on 09 / 07 / 2018 .
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deep , hollow ' oop - oop - oop - oop ' ; also a metallic tapping call .
medium to large ( 45 cm to 60 cm e . g . raven )
, but is distinguished by a larger size , mostly gray head and neck , and black spots on the breast .
schulenberg , t . s . , d . f . stotz , and l . rico . 2006 . distribution maps of the birds of peru , version 1 . 0 . environment , culture & conservation ( ecco ) . the field museum .
material published in urltoken belongs to the author ( s ) and is protected by copyright laws . contributor ( s )
contribute to the knowledge and undertanding of bird distribution in peru . report your rare and unusual sightings :
corbidi is a peruvian non - profit organization , whose goal is to develop foundations that support biodiversity conservation .
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the adult has dark sooty brown upperparts . scapulars and wing - coverts have pale - edged feathers involving scaled effect . the flight feathers are dark greyish - brown . rump and uppertail - coverts are dark greyish - olive , with small white tips to uppertail - coverts . the long , graduated tail is dark greyish - brown with narrow white terminal band . the underparts are white , but the breast is mostly whitish - buff with dark brown streaks and spots . axillaries and underwing - coverts are white , but the flight feathers and the tail are greyish - brown .
on the head , there is a short , rufous crest on the sooty brown crown . we can see a white eye stripe , indistinct on lores but conspicuous in postocular area . ear - coverts are dark brown , whereas the malar stripe is whitish . the bill is blackish above and greyish below . the eyes are yellowish , surrounded by bare , yellow - green eyering . lores are bluish - green to greenish - grey . long legs and feet are greyish - brown . the feet are zygodactyl with two toes backwards and two toes forwards . both sexes are similar .
the juvenile resembles adult but sides of head and upper breast are washed buff , and streaks and spots are absent . crown and crest are dull greyish - brown . wings , tail and uppertail - coverts show reduced white tips . the eyes are dark brown .
the first phase or “bob” shows the bird on the ground . its body , wings and tail are bobbing up and down . the tail is fanned and brushes gently the leaf litter . after a short pause , the second phase or “rush” shows the bird running forwards in several short , quick steps . the head is outstretched and low . the wings , and especially primaries and alula , are extended out and downwards below the body - level , and flick forwards intermittently . bill - clapping can be heard and the fluttery rattle noise is increasing throughout the “rush” . the bird stops abruptly after 1 - 2 seconds , ceasing both noise and movement . the third phase or “peck” shows the foraging bird pecking in the leaf litter , capturing some preys and searching for invertebrates on the ground while walking .
little is known about the courtship displays of this species , but we can suggest that they are fairly similar to the previous displays , in order to enhance the long , white - tipped wing and tail feathers while the crest is raised . but usually , the pair - bonds are not very strong between the mates .
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the adult birds usually have blue - grey head , breast and upperparts , and horizontal barring on the underparts and white spots and tips on the tail . however , the female also exists as a rare rufous
hepatic
morph , so instead of being grey it is red - brown . the eyes and legs are yellow and the slightly curved bill is horn - coloured .
juveniles are similar to the rufous female , but with a white patch on the nape .
the female will also sometimes eat the eggs and nestlings of the host bird ( see nesting ) .
they are a summer migrant , arriving around april and returning to central and southern africa from mid - july to august . the juveniles follow in august and september .
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cuculids range in length from about 16 cm ( 6 . 5 inches ) in the glossy cuckoos (
) to about 90 cm ( 36 inches ) in the larger ground cuckoos . most are coloured in drab grays and browns , but a few have striking patches of rufous ( reddish ) or white , and the glossy cuckoos are largely or partially shining
on their backs and wings . with the exception of a few strongly migratory species , most cuckoos are short - winged . all have long ( sometimes extremely long ) , graduated tails , usually with the individual feathers tipped with white . the legs vary from medium to rather long ( in the terrestrial forms ) and the feet are
; i . e . , the outer toe is reversed , pointing backward . the bill is rather stout and somewhat downcurved .
( lizard cuckoos ) . the 13 old world phaenicophaeine species are divided among nine genera .
the phaenicophaeine cuckoos build flimsy stick nests in low vegetation . both parents share in incubation and feeding the young .
…two very distinct families , the cuckoos ( cuculidae ) and the hoatzin ( opisthocomidae ) . family cuculidae is the much larger group , containing about 140 species of cuckoos , roadrunners , coucals , couas , malkohas , guiras , and anis ; cuculids are found in the tropical and temperate zones of all the continents…
in certain parasitic species of cuckoos , the females are divided into groups , or gentes , each of which lays eggs with a colour and pattern unlike those of the other groups . the females of each group usually select a particular species as the host , and , more often than not , the eggs…
…group of songbirds parasitized by cuckoos that has developed the most divergent egg - colour patterns ; the group of estrildine finches parasitized by whydahs that has developed particular gape patterns ; and among the cleaner wrasses the species labroides dimidiatus mimicked by the blenny aspidontus that develops into many different local races . …
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dog , ( canis lupus familiaris ) , domestic mammal of the family canidae ( order carnivora ) . it is a subspecies…
animal , ( kingdom animalia ) , any of a group of multicellular eukaryotic organisms ( i . e . , as distinct from…
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local breeding populations of yellow - billed cuckoos can vary from year to year . they may concentrate where populations of tent caterpillars , cicadas , or other large insects have exploded . there’s some evidence that the cuckoos may lay more eggs during such times of abundance and may be more likely to leave the “extra” eggs in the nests of other birds .
kenn kaufman is naturalist , artist , conservationist , speaker , and author of many books , including the kaufman field guide series and the beloved memoir kingbird highway . in august 2013 he was elected a fellow of the american ornithologists’ union . his column “id tips , ” featuring the photographs of brian e . small , appears in every issue of birdwatching . the article above is an excerpt of a column that ran in our june 2014 issue . subscribe .
learn how the birds of cozumel were affected by hurricanes emily and wilma in 2005 .
a bird born to run , the greater roadrunner can outrace a human , kill a rattlesnake , and thrive in the harsh landscapes of the desert southwest . roadrunners reach two feet from sturdy bill to white tail tip , with a bushy blue - black crest and mottled plumage that blends well with dusty shrubs . as they run , they hold their lean frames nearly parallel to the ground and rudder with their long tails . they have recently extended their range eastward into missouri and louisiana .
the best way to find greater roadrunners is to travel along quiet roads in open country , particularly arid grasslands and low deserts . seeing one is usually a surprise , as the bird darts out of shrub cover or across a road—so keep your eyes peeled . roadsides often teem with roadrunner prey lizards and snakes basking in the open or mice and birds drawn to seed - bearing plants . on the edges of its range , the greater roadrunner can be quite scarce and very hard to find . listen for their dovelike , low - pitched , cooing , which they usually give from an elevated perch .
for a generation of americans , the familiar “beep , beep” of warner brothers’ cartoon roadrunner was the background sound of saturday mornings . despite the cartoon character’s perennial victories over wile e . coyote , real - life coyotes present a real danger . the mammals can reach a top speed of 43 miles an hour—more than twice as fast as roadrunners .
roadrunners have evolved a range of adaptations to deal with the extremes of desert living . like seabirds , they secrete a solution of highly concentrated salt through a gland just in front of each eye , which uses less water than excreting it via their kidneys and urinary tract . moisture - rich prey including mammals and reptiles supply them otherwise - scarce water in their diet . both chicks and adults flutter the unfeathered area beneath the chin ( gular fluttering ) to dissipate heat .
greater roadrunners eat poisonous prey , including venomous lizards and scorpions , with no ill effect , although they’re careful to swallow horned lizards head - first with the horns pointed away from vital organs . roadrunners can also kill and eat rattlesnakes , often in tandem with another roadrunner : as one distracts the snake by jumping and flapping , the other sneaks up and pins its head , then bashes the snake against a rock . if it’s is too long to swallow all at once , a roadrunner will walk around with a length of snake still protruding from its bill , swallowing it a little at a time as the snake digests .
based on banding records , the oldest roadrunner was at least 7 years old .
roadrunners hold a special place in native american and mexican legends and belief systems . the birds were revered for their courage , strength , speed , and endurance . the roadrunner’s distinctive x - shaped footprint—with two toes pointing forward and two backward—are used as sacred symbols by pueblo tribes to ward off evil . the x shape disguises the direction the bird is heading , and is thought to prevent evil spirits from following .
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replace their habitat – plant a shrub or a bush not just a tree ! trees need to connect to enable safe passage for the birds . any open area makes them vulnerable to be attacked by natural predators , like kookaburras , hawks , falcons , snakes , owls and the introduced predators such as cats , dogs , foxes or indian mynas .
be a responsible companion animal guardian . keep your cat inside or in a cat enclosure . always supervise your dog – especially during spring and summer and den your dog at night .
you can help by keeping your rubbish in a bin where black and white birds can’t get at it . firstly because they forage in it inadvertently getting it caught around their feet , body or beaks , and secondly they use it as nesting material . basically they will use string , twine , wire , wool , netting , basically any material they can find to build a nest . when the chicks grow up in the nest , their feet and legs often get entwined in this string . many of these birds become attached to the nest and the tree branch . they are tethered to the nest like on a lead and when they fledge ( try to leave the nest to fly ) they are either totally unable to leave or injured and deformed rendering them unable to forage , perch and therefore live a healthy life .


the andean flamingo ( phoenicoparrus andinus ) is one of the rarest flamingos in the world .

it lives in the andes mountains of south america .

until 2014 it was classified in genus phoenicopterus .

it is closely related to james 's flamingo , and the two make up the genus phoenicoparrus .

the chilean flamingo , andean flamingo and james 's flamingo are all sympatric , and all live in colonies ( including shared nesting areas ) .

andean flamingo

and andean flamingo ) , andean flamingos live in the most diverse set of habitats .
there are six species of flamingo , according to the integrated taxonomic information system ( itis ) : greater flamingo , lesser flamingo , chilean flamingo , andean flamingo , james ' ( or puna ) flamingo and american ( or caribbean ) flamingo .
this entry was posted in archive , south america , waterbirds and tagged andean flamingo , chilean flamingo , puna flamingo . bookmark the permalink .
estimated population of the andean flamingo is 33 , 927 birds with a decreasing trend .
archived 2014 discussion : andean flamingo ( phoenicoparrus andinus ) , puna flamingo ( p . jamesi ) and chilean flamingo ( phoenicopterus chilensis ) : downlist all to least concern ?
description : the andean flamingo is the third south american flamingo with the james ' s flamingo and the chilean flamingo . the species is listed as vulnerable due to human disturbances , egg - collecting and habitat loss . this flamingo is closely related to the james ' s flamingo . both are very rare .
close - up of an andean flamingo feeding in the shallow waters of salar de atacama in chile .
despite the long history of impacts and steady population decline , the andean flamingo has been declared endangered as recent as september 2010 . the andean flamingo is now protected under the endangered species act of 1973 .
6 responses to archived 2014 discussion : andean flamingo ( phoenicoparrus andinus ) , puna flamingo ( p . jamesi ) and chilean flamingo ( phoenicopterus chilensis ) : downlist all to least concern ?
alkaline wetlands constitute the andean flamingo’s prime foraging habitat . ( photo : marcio cabral de mora – flickr )
this response was prepared by members of the gcfa , an international initiative coordinating flamingo and wetland research and conservation activities throughout the andean and puna flamingo distribution range .
the andean flamingo ( phoenicopterus andinus ) is one of the three flamingos occurring in the high andes of south america . it is the largest and easiest to identify in all age stages . it is also the rarest of the flamingos of living in the high andean . in fact , the andean flamingo is regarded as the world’s rarest flamingo .
archived 2014 discussion : andean flamingo ( phoenicoparrus andinus ) , puna flamingo ( p . jamesi ) and chilean flamingo ( phoenicopterus chilensis ) : downlist all to least concern ? | birdlife ' s globally threatened bird forums
young andean flamingos are grey in colour before they develop the pink adult plumage .
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range : the andean flamingo is found in restricted range in the high andes , from s peru , through bolivia to n chile and nw argentina .
( andean flamingo ) is found in the chilean andes of south america , which includes southern peru , north - central chile , western bolivia , and northwestern argentina .
the initial decline in the andean flamingo’s population appears to have started as early as the mid 20th century . egg harvesting to sell as food was intensive then , with thousands taken annually from the breeding colonies in chile . these breeding colonies included other species of flamingos , but it was only the andean flamingo that appeared to have been the most affected , if indeed the egg extraction was one of the causes that led to the andean flamingo’s population decline . egg collection for local consumption still continues at lower scale .
the lesser flamingo is the most numerous of all flamingo species , with an estimated population of 1 . 5 to 2 . 5 million individuals .
do you know of or are you a part of an organisation that work to conserve the andean flamingo , then please contact us to have it featured on our endangered world .
andean flamingos are found in southern peru , north - central chile , western bolivia , and northwestern argentina .
the second most numerous flamingo species is the greater flamingo . exact numbers of these birds are difficult to assess because of their extensive range and migration patterns .
in the 2014 breeding season in argentina , a nesting colony of 180 puna flamingo nests in laguna grande , catamarca , was abandoned because of human disturbance caused by unregulated tourism activities , and a colony of 600 andean flamingo nests in laguna blanca , catamarca , was abandoned because of human disturbance caused by people taking flamingo eggs for local consumption .
while the andean flamingo is most commonly found in the andean wetlands , high in the mountainous regions near chile , argentina , peru . while they may be localized to these areas , the andean flamingos are highly migratory , and can travel up to seven hundred miles in a single day . while it is migratory , it can usually be found in an area containing high quantities of plankton and invertebrate life .
the size of volcano flamingo flocks can reach thousands of birds . total population estimates are 34 , 000 for the andean flamingo , 100 , 000 for the james’s flamingo , and 200 , 000 for the chilean flamingo . in a world where remnant populations of charismatic species often teeter at hundreds to a few thousand in the wild , these estimates may at first seem encouraging . however , the international union for conservation of nature classifies volcano flamingos as “near threatened” ( andean and chilean ) and “vulnerable” ( james’s ) on its red list .
the james ' flamingo has the most restricted range of all flamingo species . they are found in southern peru , northeastern chile , western bolivia , and northwestern argentina .
for the first time , biologists from four south american countries have done a simultaneous census of the high - altitude lakes where two little - known flamingo species live year - round . their reports confirm fears of a precipitous decline in one species , the andean flamingo , over the last 25 years .
the high andean flamingos undertake continuous migrations between the south american wetlands of argentina , bolivia , chile and peru to forage and to search for breeding sites . the populations of these flamingos have been subject to a drastic reduction and fragmentation of their habitats . according to the iucn , the global conservation status of the andean flamingo ( phoenicopterus andinus ) is “vulnerable” and that of james’s flamingo ( phoenicopterus jamesi ) is “nearly threatened” .
we would like to comment on the proposal by birdlife international to downlist the three flamingo species of southern south america , the andean flamingo ( phoenicoparrus andinus ) , puna flamingo ( p . jamesi ) and chilean flamingo ( phoenicopterus chilensis ) , to the category of least concern according to iucn criteria . we appreciate that this assessment is based on the recognition that data now available are rigorous , accurate , and reliable , and we also appreciate the opportunity to comment on this proposal .
the flamingo ' s characteristic pink colouring is caused by the beta carotene in their diet .
on bonaire , flamingoes are legally protected . never harass , frighten or harm a flamingo .
three flamingo species live in the wetlands of southern south america : the chilean flamingo ( phoenicopterus chilensis ) is the most widespread throughout the southern cone , while the andean flamingo ( phoenicoparrus andinus ) and puna flamingo ( p . jamesi ) are found primarily in the wetlands of the high plateau or altiplano in the andes mountains of argentina , bolivia , chile , and peru . however , they can also be found in lowland wetlands that are critical for their survival , especially during winter months .
another interesting component in the eating habits of all flamingos is they tend to follow the scavenging methods of whatever flock they are currently flying with . for example , the chilean flamingo tends to hunt in deeper waters than the andean , but if an andean flamingo comes upon a flock of the chileans , they will adopt the exact eating methods of their chilean counterparts , working as a team , and almost inherently knowing how to dive deeper than the species would normally .
we believe that the information available and our knowledge of the conservation status of the puna and andean flamingo populations and wetland habitats does not warrant the downlisting of these species to least concern according to iucn criteria . the status of the andean flamingo is of sufficient concern that the usfws has included it as one of the few foreign species listed under the us endangered species act as of september 2010 . furthermore , we believe the status of the puna flamingo should be reevaluated given the population treneds and demographic concerns and threats mentioned above to determine if listing as vulnerable is warranted .
andean flamingos have been exploited by humans rarely in the past , probably because they tend to live and breed in remote , bleak areas .
diet : the andean flamingo feeds mainly on diatoms ( bacillariophyceae ) , algae of genus surinella , and aquatic invertebrates . it feeds by wading with head lowered into the water , in order to filter the water with its highly specialized bill .
captive flamingo populations and opportunities for research in zoos . c . e . king . 142 - 149
andean flamingos breed in december and january , variation may be related to rainfall patterns . andean flamingos begin breeding once they have become fully colored adults , usually at three to six years old . flamingos breed colonially , with up to thousands of individuals , sometimes in mixed - species groups with
andean flamingos are found in the lakes and lagoons of the andes mountains . they are highly gregarious birds and form flocks containing thousands of individuals .
because the andean flamingo’s recent addition to the endangered species list , there have been few implemented plans to protect it . the more immediate protection measures include finding ways to solve the problems of mining activities , egg collecting , poaching , and uncontrolled ecotourism .
the movements of the greater flamingo population living in carmarque in southern france have been closely monitored since 1977 .
flamingo specialist group : past , present and future activities . a . r . johnson . 200 - 205
reproduction : the andean flamingo breeds in huge colonies containing thousands of birds . it may breed in mixed colonies with one or both other south american species . the nest is a mud mound , a truncated cone in shallow water with a bowl at top .
listing three foreign bird species - andean flamingo ( phoenicoparrus andinus ) , the chilean woodstar ( eulidia yarrellii ) , and the st . lucia forest thrush ( cichlherminia lherminieri sanctaeluciae ) - from latin america and the caribbean as endangered throughout their range ; final rule
the park contains more than 30 species of mammals , including wild llamas , vicuna , foxes , alpacas , chinchillas , and andean and pampas cats .
with their long legs and necks and distinctive pink plumage , flamingos are the epitome of avian elegance . but dr . conway considers the two mountain species to be the most beautiful of the six . the head , neck and breast of the andean flamingo have a wine - red hue , and it is the only flamingo with yellow legs . the james flamingo ' s back is draped with long scarlet plumes in the breeding season , and its breast is streaked with carmine .
an andean flamingo nest is made mostly of collected mud ovoid’s , where the birds collect the mud in their curved beaks , and stamp it down into roughly circular areas . the flamingo will then build a large “moat” around the nested area . it is unknown why they do this , but it is speculated that the moat area is for protection against ground dwelling snakes .
the andean flamingo has the classic , familiar look of the flamingo , with long legs , a long neck , and a prominent , aquiline beak . this large filter - feeding bird stands 1 meter to 1 . 4 meters tall , and boasts a wingspan of up to 1 . 6 meters . average weight is 4 kilograms . festively coloured in pink and white , the andean flamingo’s plumage is set off by yellow legs , a yellow and black beak , and black primary flight feathers on the wings . their cry is a loud , goose - like honk which is given with the head thrown back and the tail raised .
andean flamingos have the typical flamingo form with long , thin legs and neck . the average andean flamingo stands 1 to 1 . 4 meters tall with a wingspan of 1 to 1 . 6 meters , and a weight of 1 . 5 to 4 . 1 kg . plumage is light pink , with the head , neck , and upper breast a darker red . the curved bill is yellow and black . they have three - forward pointing toes , lacking their fourth toe . juvenile andean flamingos are grey before they develop their light pink plumage . these are the only species of flamingo with yellow legs and a red spot between the nostrils . they also have very deep bills and stiff lamellae on the lower jaw to help filter fine particles for consumption and keep other larger particles out .
the andean flamingo’s movements are poorly known , but they move according to water levels and food availability . during winter , they may perform altitudinal movements , leaving the altiplano and reaching lower areas where the food is abundant . they usually move at night and in flocks .
literature cited : marconi , p . m . and a . l . sureda . 2008 . high andean flamingo wetland network : evaluation of degree of implementation of priority sites - preliminary results . pp . 36 - 40 . in : childress , b . , arengo , f . and bechet , a . ( eds . ) 2008 . flamingo , bulletin of the iucn - ssc / wetlands international flamingo specialist group , no . 16 , december 2008 . wildfowl & wetlands trust , slimbridge , uk .
the beaks of the andean flamingo are a black and yellow color , yellow closest to the face , descending into black as you get closer to the tip of the beak . the beak is hooked , to aid in hunting at the bottom of shallow waters , and filter feeding .
the introduction of fish to some lakes may seriously affect the distribution of the chilean flamingo as well as the greater and caribbean flamingos , since they all feed primarily on invertebrates . other flamingo species are not affected because of different food sources .
protection / threats / status : the andean flamingo suffers population decline due to habitat loss , variations of water levels with mining activities , heavy egg - collecting in the mid - 20th century , human disturbances and erosion of nest - sites . currently , this species is listed as vulnerable .
lauca ' s wetlands are home to more than 100 bird species , including the flamingo , giant coot , white owl , andean geese , and nandus ( a flightless south american bird resembling the emu ) . three species of flamingo throng the shores of lake chungaraat 12 , 000 feet ( 3 , 660 meters ) , one of the world ' s highest lakes . birders from around the world flock to lauca .
the lifespan andean flamingos in the wild is unknown . they are believed to live for twenty to thirty years . in captivity some flamingos have lived to 60 years old .
andean flamingos are highly gregarious , forming large flocks of tens of thousands of birds . the only typical form of aggression is between males when mate guarding . andean flamingos move among ponds and lagoons throughout the year , in search of food . they may tend to occur at lower elevations during the winter . they are active during the day .
conservation efforts : various nature reserves and flamingo reserves have been established to protect crucial feeding and breeding grounds for this species . egg collecting has been successfully reduced by official action , though it still occurs . the united kingdom houses a self - renewing captive population of these birds should reintroduction ever become necessary . efforts are under way to create more protected areas and to educate locals in the ecological value of the andean flamingo .
the andean flamingos are monogamous , and it is speculated that they take mates for lifelong periods . mated pairs have been spotted and tagged together for several years at a time .
andean flamingos have a loud honking call that is similar to that of a goose they also communicate using a wing salute , stretching up their neck and flipping up their tail .
the andean flamingo possesses the typical elegant flamingo body shape , with long legs and a long , curved neck ( 5 ) . the body is pale pink , with bright upperparts and a noticeable patch of black on the wing ( 2 ) . the legs are yellow and the large , curved bill is yellow and black ( 2 ) . young birds are grey in colour before they develop the pink adult plumage ( 2 ) .
the andean flamingo is one of the least commonly found flamingos in the world today . it is the only flamingo found to have three toed feet , and legs that are yellow in coloration . their beak is a black and yellow color , and it has the curved features that all pictorial representations seem to have . while they are fairly common in the andes and wet - lands of peru , they are presently vulnerable to extinction .
the greater flamingo has the most widespread distribution of all flamingo species . populations are found in northwest india , the middle east , the western mediterranean , and africa . limited numbers of this species can be found over much of northern europe and eastward to siberia .
lesterhuis , a . j . , clay , r . p . and del castillo , h . ( 2008 ) status and distribution in paraguay of the chilean flamingo ( phoenicopterus chilensis ) . pp : 41 - 45 . flamingo 16 : 41 - 45 .
andean flamingos breed in colonies containing thousands of individuals , during december and january . they produce one chalky white egg that is laid on a mud mound in shallow water . both parents
andean flamingos breeding at laguna brava , la rioja , argentina . e . h . bucher , j . m . chani , and a . l . echevarria . 119 - 120
what a flamingo eats depends on what type of beak it has . lesser , james ' and andean flamingos have what is called a deep - keeled bill . they eat mostly algae . greater , chilean and american flamingos have shallow - keeled bills , which allow them to eat insects , invertebrates and small fish .
they are very shy birds , so they will always walk away when approached . if you see a flamingo and you would like to photograph it , do not approach it . the distance will never become smaller since for every step you take the flamingo will take two . the best way to photograph a flamingo is to use a telephoto lens . if you are in luck and you spot a flamingo close to the road , do not get out of the car . stay in the car and take the picture from there .
a . longevity . experts have not yet determined how long flamingos live . at the philadelphia zoo , one flamingo lived 44 years .
andean flamingos are considered vulnerable and are difficult to breed in captivity . northern chilean populations were severely decimated by a drought . they are now protected by being listed by the convention on international trade in endangered species , and the convention on migratory species . a separate and self - sustaining population of andean flamingos is being kept at the wildfowl and wetlands trust in the united kingdom .
location : the andean flamingo is confined to the mountains of south america – mostly in chile , peru , argentina , and bolivia . as noted , it lives only above the 2 , 300 meter mark and below 5 , 000 meters , requiring alkaline lakes or salt lakes with shallow , diatom - rich water for its survival .
3 . tongue . a flamingo’s large , fleshy tongue is covered with bristlelike projections that help filter water and food particles through the lamellae .
a new threat to the andean flamingo is borax mining , which occurs heavily in its range . though borax is largely harmless to humans , it destroys much of the birds’ reproductive capacity and causes growing flamingos to develop deformed skeletons . bulldozing lake beds destroys food supplies , and mining activity in general disturbs the birds and ruins their habitat .
threats : the andean flamingo’s decline began with massive collection of eggs from the world war ii era through the 1980s . the eggs were used as a food supply by the region’s burgeoning population , but greatly impacted the flamingos , sending their population into a sharp decline . there was an average population of 100 , 000 prior to the egg collection era , but this human nest robbing cut the flamingo’s numbers to a third of what they once were . today , the flamingo’s population may be stable or even slightly increasing . sadly , egg collection is not even justified by poverty , since the local people are well - nourished and have an ample supply of llama meat , which is considerably more nutritious than flamingo eggs ; they are a delicacy , not a necessity .
b . coloration . 1 . feather color varies with species , ranging from pale pink to crimson or vermilion . a . caribbean flamingos have the brightest coloration : crimson or vermilion . b . the chilean flamingo is pale pink . 2 . feather coloration is derived from carotenoid pigments found in a flamingo’s food . 3 . male and female flamingo coloration is the same . 4 . newly - hatched chicks are gray or white . 5 . juveniles are grayish , taking approximately one to two years to obtain full adult coloration . 6 . parents lose their pink coloration while raising young if they are still feeding chicks through the adult’s molting period . 7 . coloration of flamingos’ legs and feet varies according to species from yellow to orange or pink - red . the andean flamingo is the only species that has yellow legs and feet . long legs and a long , curved neck are characteristics of all flamingo species .
recently the andean flamingo has been dropping in numbers and so it is now classified as vulnerable . it is hoped that early intervention though is going to help them be able to get their numbers back up soon and be taken off of that list . there are some efforts out there to help with the future for these and other flamingos .
scientists recognize six kinds of flamingos , and two others are also found in the western hemisphere . the caribbean flamingo is the one seen in the bahamas and the galapagos islands ; the chilean flamingo is widespread from peru to the coasts of argentina and tierra del fuego , and some populations also breed in the high andes lakes . the greater flamingo , which is found from africa and the mediterranean to kazakhstan and india , is the largest of its kind . the smallest and most abundant species is the lesser flamingo , which numbers in the millions in africa ' s rift valley .
the andean flamingo is a forager , meaning it will eat anything that it can properly digest . its total diet is not fairly varied , including the diatoms , algae , and small particles . they are also known to eat some underwater plants , mostly the vascular varieties , but they are known to also gorge themselves on the smaller plankton species .
andean flamingos use filter feeding to capture small particles at the sediment / water interface . they have narrow and deep lower mandibles which allow them to capture small particles , most commonly diatoms ( in the family
flight : the andean flamingo flies with neck , head and legs outstretched . it needs a short run before to take off , to gain the necessary speed while wings are flapping when the wind is absent . the flight is swift and direct , with rapid wingbeats sometimes interspersed with short glides . when in flock , they often fly in v - formation .
mining activities pose a current threat to the andean flamingo . mining companies have established themselves adjacent to the flamingos’ nesting sites and feeding sites . flamingos have been reported to abandon their nesting sites even when mining was initiated after the establishment of nesting colonies when the birds were expected to be engaged in a breeding attempt and were less likely to leave the colonies .
the andean flamingo is protected by its listing on appendix ii of the convention on international trade in endangered species ( cites ) ( 3 ) and appendix i of the convention on migratory species ( cms ) ( 4 ) . a self - sustaining captive population of andean flamingos exists at the wildfowl and wetlands trust at slimbridge in the uk ( 5 ) . these birds provide useful research subjects into behavioural aspects of this species . flamingos are an emotive bird and as such can act as important flagship species for the conservation of the world’s highly delicate wetland ecosystems ( 5 ) .
breeding : breeding occurs from december through february , in large colonies – as might be expected from this social bird . only a single egg is laid by each female , and many young flamingos do not survive until adulthood . the egg is placed on a mound of mud , surrounded by shallow water . flamingo chicks are self - sufficient by ten months and ready to breed in three to six years . the andean flamingo lives for around 45 years in the wild if it does not succumb to hunting or predation .
andean flamingo phoenicoparrus andinus is currently listed as vulnerable under the a criterion , and puna flamingo p . jamesi and chilean flamingo phoenicopterus chilensis are listed as near threatened under the a criterion . p . andinus was suspected to be declining at a rate of 30 - 49 % over 10 years . p . jamesi was suspected to have declined by 20 - 29 % over the past 48 years ( three generations ) , while p . chilensis was suspected to be declining at a rate of 20 - 29 % over 10 years . these negative trends were suspected on the basis of past declines and ongoing threats , primarily egg - harvesting , hunting , disturbance and habitat degradation .
flamingo science : current status and future needs . k . l . bildstein , g . a . baldassarre , and f . arengo . 206 - 211
rocha , o . & p . marconi . 2012 . monitoring of 2011 - 2012 breeding colonies and populations of andean flamingos ( phoenicoparrus andinus y p . jamesi ) in argentina and bolivia . unpublished report to cms .
a . size . 1 . the greater flamingo is the tallest flamingo , standing 110 to 130 cm ( 43 - 51 in . ) and weighing up to 3 . 5 kg ( 7 . 7 lb . ) . 2 . the lesser flamingo is the smallest flamingo , standing 80 cm ( 31 . 5 in . ) and weighing only 2 . 5 kg ( 5 . 5 lb . ) . 3 . males reach full size between one - and - a - half and two years . 4 . male flamingos are slightly larger than females , weighing more and having longer wingspans ; however , visual sex determination of flamingos is unreliable . 5 . the wingspan of flamingos ranges from 95 to 100 cm ( 37 - 39 in . ) for the lesser flamingo to 140 to 165 cm ( 55 - 65 in . ) for the greater flamingo . the caribbean flamingo has a wingspan of 150 cm ( 59 in . ) . there are five species of flamingos . two species belong to the genus phoenicopterus . p . ruber is divided into two subspecies , p . r . ruber and p . r . roseus .
the flamingo ' s most characteristic habitats are large alkaline or saline lakes or estuarine lagoons that usually lack vegetation . lakes may be far inland or near the sea .
flamingos are generally non - migratory birds . however , due to changes in the climate and water levels in their breeding areas , flamingo colonies are not always permanent .
dr . conway described the flamingo survey as ' ' a first step to a collaborative conservation program for the andean altiplano and puna wildlife communities . ' ' other unusual animals found in this barren landscape include burrowing rodents called viscachas and giant coots . he said the flamingo populations should be monitored at least once every two years and that researchers needed to determine why mortality among chicks had been unusually high . ' ' many chicks die even under the best conditions , ' ' he said , adding that the water level in the salars was influenced by mining activities .
voice : sounds by xeno - canto the andean flamingo’s call resembles goose’s calls , a loud honking sound often given in flight . a feeding flock usually produces a low gabbling . we can also hear deep grunts during displays , postures and movements . they give nasal , raspy calls at colonies . on the other hand , the voice plays an important role in mutual recognition between adults and chicks .
at 20 , 800 feet ( 6 , 340 meters ) , the peak of the snow - covered , dormant volcano parinacota , in northern chile , commands a view of peru , bolivia , and chile ' s high andean altiplano .
abundance of benthic macroinvertebrates in caribbean flamingo feeding areas at los olivitos refuge , western venezuela . e . e . esté and c . l . casler . 87 - 94
furthermore , for both andean and puna flamingos , the vast majority of chicks are being produced at 2 - 4 breeding sites ( laguna colorada in bolivia and salar de tara , salar de atacama , salar de surire in chile ) . during the 2010 breeding season , 80 % of andean flamingo chicks came from laguna colorada in bolivia , a site where productivity has been highly variable in the past 10 years ( rocha et al . 2009 ) . though other satellite breeding areas have been recorded in the past 5 years , these are not used consistently and do not produce the numbers of chicks that are produced at the main sites mentioned above .
a . distribution . 1 . all flamingos are found in tropical and subtropical areas . 2 . populations of chilean flamingos are found in central peru , both coasts of southern south america ( mainly in the winter ) , argentina , uruguay , paraguay , and southern brazil . stragglers have been reported on the falkland islands . 3 . the lesser flamingo is primarily an african species . populations are found in eastern , southwestern , and western africa . also , a sizable population nests in india . stragglers can be found as far north as southern spain . 4 . the james’ flamingo has the most restricted range of all flamingo species . they are found in southern peru , northeastern chile , western bolivia , and northwestern argentina . 5 . andean flamingos are found in southern peru , north - central chile , western bolivia , and northwestern argentina . 6 . populations of caribbean flamingo are limited to yucatan , parts of the west indies , bahamas , galapagos islands , and the northernmost tip of south america . 7 . the greater flamingo has the most widespread distribution of all flamingo species . populations are found in northwest india , the middle east , the western mediterranean , and africa . limited numbers of this species can be found over much of northern europe , eastward to siberia .
habitat : the andean flamingo frequents salt - lakes at high elevation , usually between 3500 and 4500 metres , but it can be seen lower and higher too . this species is absent from lakes with hardened sediments at the bottom . it breeds on islands and islets with soil of soft clay sediment or sand . these islands are usually along the shores of high - elevation salt - lakes , or in centre .
zoological society of san diego , 2005 .
san diego zoo ' s animal bytes : flamingo
( on - line ) . accessed october 10 , 2005 at urltoken .
the chilean flamingo is scarce or absent in lakes with fish . it is present , usually in large numbers , where there are no fish with which to compete for food .
the chilean flamingo is the most numerous of the south american flamingos . estimated total population is not more than 200 , 000 individuals , and the population is in a decline .
andean flamingos lay just one egg at a time . the egg is a pinkish white color , and is incubated by both parents for 27 - 31 days . the average egg is around seven centimeters long and weighs approximately 113 - 141 grams .
in a landscape as harsh and vast as the altiplano , long - term , continuous monitoring of anything is difficult . enter the power of technology . we are using remote photography to create a cadre of digital witnesses in places inhospitable to humans . cameras set to synchronously capture images at “flamingo” and “no flamingo” lakes will observe the arrival , persistence , and departure of flamingo flocks . they will enable us to make direct estimates of flamingo numbers and locations . we can then correlate these data with lake characteristics such as algal density and salinity . the information being collected by our digital observers will help us to unlock some of the tightly held secrets of the altiplano’s pink - feathered inhabitants— and not a moment too soon .
he added that the chilean flamingo had more catholic tastes . ' ' it has around 13 teeth to the inch and feeds largely on brine shrimp and other small invertebrates . ' '
current population estimates for the three species are 38 , 675 for the andean flamingo , 106 , 000 for the puna flamingo , and 282 , 752 for the chilean flamingo ( marconi et al . 2010 ) . the grupo conservación flamencos altoandinos ( gcfa ) obtained the first reliable estimates for the first two species in 1997 by conducting a simultaneous comprehensive census throughout the distribution range . since then , subsequent censuses indicate population trends appear to have remained stable , although these are measured over a the time interval of the past 13 years , which is less than a generation length according to the iucn definition . prior population estimates were based on extrapolations of rough counts at a limited number of sites and are not considered reliable . population estimates for chilean flamingos continue to be based on extrapolations from limited counts .
) may take eggs or newly hatched young . large , predatory birds may also sometimes take young flamingos . humans have also been known to hunt flamingos and collect their eggs . andean miners once believed that the fat of flamingos was a cure for tuberculosis .
two adorable flamingo chicks were born this month at the smithsonian ' s national zoo in washington , d . c . the baby birds were the 100th and 101st flamingo chicks to hatch at the zoo ' s bird house . since flamingo chicks have a higher survival rate if they are hand - reared , zookeepers are keeping the babies out of the spotlight for now . when they are older , the birds will join the zoo ' s flock of flamingoes outside , according to smithsonian officials . [ related gallery : world ' s cutest baby wild animals ]
the caribbean flamingo is found throughout the caribbean ( cuba , the bahamas , the yucatan , turks and caicos ) , the galapagos islands , and the northern part of coastal south america .
the proposed action plan seeks to protect the high andean flamingos and their habitats , fostering research activities towards the improvement of the knowledge of these species , habitat management , and would also promote the cooperation and information exchange among signatories . in addition , the plan would also serve as a consolidation instrument of the conservation endeavors that are already in place to promote high andean wetlands conservation , such as those executed by the grupo de conservación de flamingos altoandinos ( gcfa ) , and the commitments agreed under the ramsar convention on wetlands .
andean and james flamingos feed side - by - side on tiny diatoms and nematodes that abound in the shallow lagoons , using their plunger - like tongues to pump the saline water and bottom mud through comb strainers ( or lamellae ) in their beaks . but there is apparently little competition between the two species . dr . conway measured the ' ' teeth ' ' in the beak combs and counted 23 to the inch in andean flamingos and 54 to the inch in james flamingos , suggesting that they filter foods of difference sizes .
high andean flamingos have experienced direct threats from egg collection for market consumption , a practice that was more common during the mid - twentieth century up until the early 1980s . indirect threats coming from human disturbances , particularly unregulated mining activities have resulted in the erosion of nest - sites , water contamination , and a reduction in water availability . in addition to these threats , climate change has been associated with the increasing retreat of mountain glaciers in the andes . this unprecedented retreat would probably affect water supply at andean wetlands in the near future .
andean flamingos live in highland salt lakes of the andes mountains from 2 , 500 to 4 , 950 m above sea level , but usually occuring between 3500 and 4500 meters elevation . their habitat mainly consists of large alkaline or saline lagoons with soft sediment bottoms . these habitats are often characterized by relatively sparse vegetation . in winter these flamingos may move to lower elevations in search of food . of the three types of flamingos living in the andes ( chilean flamingo ,
the way the andean flamingo ingests its food is both interesting and amazing . their bill allows them to take in the larger sea creatures that they commonly eat , while expelling water without swallowing it . their most common food source is known as the diatom , a nutritious form of plankton that frequents the bottom of lakes and rivers . the bill filters out all of the unnecessary or unwanted minerals , such as the rocks that tend to float around in the lakes .
the largest of the andean flamingos is native to the wetlands and shallow alkaline lakes of the high andes mountain range , from southern perú to northwestern argentina and northern chile . in the summer , they live in salt lakes and migrate to the lower wetlands for the winter .
the andean flamingo reaches sexual maturity at anywhere from three to six years of age , about the same amount of time it takes them to achieve their full pink coloration . the breeding period is usually in december , to january , when the migration has ended , and the birds have settled to their winter habitat . the breed like a colony and a group may have flamingos from up to four different species . the smallest breeding colonies observed are no smaller than fifty .
102–110 cm ; 2000–2400 g . head , neck and upper breast tinged wine red ; red spot between nostrils ; only flamingo with yellow legs and feet . lacks hind toe . on . . .
an overview of the greater flamingo ringing program in the camargue ( southern france ) and some aspects of the species’ breeding biology studied using marked individuals . a . r . johnson . 2 - 8
evidence of seasonal sex ratio manipulation in the greater flamingo . g . bertault , m . raymond , f . rousset , f . cézilly , and a . r . johnson . 20 - 25
del hoyo , j . , boesman , p . & garcia , e . f . j . ( 2018 ) . andean flamingo ( phoenicoparrus andinus ) . in : del hoyo , j . , elliott , a . , sargatal , j . , christie , d . a . & de juana , e . ( eds . ) . handbook of the birds of the world alive . lynx edicions , barcelona . ( retrieved from urltoken on 9 july 2018 ) .
a . food preferences and resources . 1 . blue - green and red algae , diatoms , larval and adult forms of small insects , crustaceans , molluscs , and small fishes make up the main diet of flamingos . 2 . a flamingo’s pink or reddish feather , leg , and facial coloration comes from a diet high in alpha and beta carotenoid pigments , including canthaxanthin . the richest sources of carotenoids are found in the algae and various insects that make up the staples of a flamingo’s diet . 3 . the shape of a flamingo’s filtering bill determines its diet . a flamingo will either have a shallow or deep - keeled bill . a . lesser , james’ , and andean flamingos have deep - keeled bills and feed mainly on algae and diatoms . b . greater , caribbean , and chilean flamingos have shallow - keeled bills and feed on insects , aquatic invertebrates , and small fishes . caribbean flamingos eat larval and pupal forms of flies and brine shrimp as their main food . 4 . slight differences in diet and habits prevent competition among flamingos that share close feeding grounds .
many of the issues presented in 2011 by the gcfa continue to be valid in january 2014 . we have recent information that continues to document ongoing threats to the 3 flamingo species in southern south america .
marconi , p . m . and a . l . sureda . 2010 . simultaneous survey of shorebirds in the network of wetlands of importance for flamingo conservation . final report to birdlife international and canadian wildlife service . marconi , p . , a . l . sureda , f . arengo , m . s . aguilar , n . amado , l . alza , o . rocha , r . torres , f . moschione , m . romano , h . sosa , e . derlindati . 2010 . fourth simultaneous flamingo census in south america : preliminary results . in : lee , r . , arengo , f . , and bechet , a . ( eds ) in press . flamingo , bulletin of the iucn - ssc / wetlands international flamingo specialist group , no . 18 , wildfowl & wetlands trust , slimbridge , uk .
c . appendages . 1 . legs . a . adult flamingos’ legs are long and spindled . the legs are longer than the flamingo’s body , measuring between 80 and 125 cm ( 31 . 5 - 49 in . ) depending on the species . b . the ankle is located about halfway up the leg . c . the knee is located close to the body and is not externally visible . 2 . feet . a . the chilean , greater , and lesser flamingos have three forward - pointing toes and a hallux , or hind toe . b . andean and james’ flamingos have three toes and no hallux . c . webbing between the toes aids the bird in swimming and stirring up food . d . coloration of the feet and legs is the same . 3 . wings . a . the wingspan of flamingos ranges from 95 to 100 cm ( 37 - 39 in . ) on the lesser flamingo to 140 to 165 cm ( 55 - 65 in . ) on the greater flamingo . the caribbean flamingo has a wingspan of 150 cm ( 59 in . ) . b . there are 12 principal flight feathers located on each wing . these black feathers are visible when the wings are extended . 4 . neck . the neck is long and sinuous . a flamingo has 19 elongated cervical ( neck ) vertebrae allowing for maximum movement and twisting .
if a flamingo were to stop eating food containing carotenoids , its new feathers would begin growing in with a much paler shade , and its reddish feathers would eventually molt away . molted feathers lose their pinkish hue .
in 1956 , the caribbean flamingo numbers were estimated at only 21 , 500 . since then , the population has increased to a current estimate of 850 , 000 to 880 , 000 birds and a stable trend .
marconi , p . , sureda , a . l . , arengo , f . , aguilar , m . s . , amado , n . , alza , l . , rocha , o . , torres , r . , moschione , f . , romano , m . , sosa , h . and derlindati , e . ( in press ) 4th simultaneous flamingo census in south america : preliminary results . flamingo 18 .
b . habitat . 1 . the flamingo’s most characteristic habitats are large alkaline or saline lakes or estuarine lagoons that usually lack vegetation . lakes may be far inland or near the sea . 2 . a variety of habitats are used by flamingos : mangrove swamps , tidal flats , and sandy islands in the intertidal zone . 3 . the presence or absence of fish may have a great influence on the use of lakes by some flamingos . a . the chilean flamingo is scarce or absent in lakes with fish . it is present , usually in large numbers , where there are no fish with which to compete for food . b . the introduction of fish to some lakes may seriously affect the distribution of the chilean flamingo as well as the greater and caribbean flamingos , since they all feed primarily on invertebrates . other flamingo species are not affected because of different food sources .
andean flamingos reach heights between 1 and 1 . 4 m ( 3 . 25 - 4 . 60 ft ) , they have a wingspan between 1 and 1 . 6 m ( 3 . 25 - 5 . 25 ft ) and they weigh up to 4 kgs ( 8 . 8 lbs ) .
american flamingos live in the west indies , yucatán , in the northern part of south america and along the galapagos islands . chilean , andean and james ' flamingos live in south america , and the greater and lesser flamingos live in africa . greater flamingos can also be found in the middle east and india .
the lesser flamingo is primarily an african species . populations are found in eastern , southwestern , and western africa . in addition , a sizable population nests in india . stragglers can be found as far north as southern spain .
behaviour : the andean flamingo is a “filter - feeder” , feeding on food particles from water , by passing food and water over the highly - specialized bill equipped with filtering structure as all flamingos . it feeds mainly on diatoms , algae of genus surinella , taking the food between the sediment at the bottom and the water just above it . it may perform upending in deeper lakes . it walks slowly and stops sometimes . usually , they feed in pairs or small groups , and are several metres apart , patchily scattered over the lake .
e . flight . 1 . to take off , a flamingo runs several steps , begins flapping its wings , and lifts into the air . when landing , the procedure is reversed : the bird touches down and then runs several paces . 2 . a flamingo flies with its head and neck stretched out in front and its legs trailing behind . 3 . flight speed of a flock of flamingos can reach 50 to 60 kph ( 31 - 37 mph ) . 4 . flamingos have been known to fly 500 to 600 km ( 311 - 373 mi . ) each night between habitats . a flamingo flies with its head and neck stretched out in front and its legs trailing behind .
conservation organizations such as the flamingo specialist group is actively trying to inform the public on the vulnerability of flamingos . they produce an annual newsletter to tell readers the current status of several species . recently , this group has joined sides with the international union for conservation of nature ( iucn ) in order to create an action plan for the flamingos . the populations of all species of andean flamingos is monitored though simultaneous multi - national census . also local outreach programs are being implemented in the most sensitive regions used by flamingos during an annual life cycles .
long - term survey of chilean flamingo breeding colonies on mar chiquita lake , córdoba , argentina . e . h . bucher , a . l . echevarria , m . d . juri , and j . m . chani . 114 - 118
the numbers of the other species , the james flamingo , are close to estimates from the 1970 ' s , but conservationists are concerned that the fragile ecosystems shared by both birds are threatened by increasing human disturbance , particularly from mining and unregulated tourism .
our goal is to implement a long - term regional conservation strategy that will ensure the functional integrity of the wetlands that are crucial for these birds’ survival . this requires regional , cross - boundary collaboration among a variety of institutions in the flamingo range countries .
in addition to developing an action plan , signatories are committed to assess its implementation at regular meetings , and report any advancement on the conservation of these species to the secretariat . overall , activities under the mou are oriented towards the effective protection of the high andean flamingos through the conservation of the habitats upon which they depend throughout their entire life - cycle .