Chilean flamingo

(Phoenicopterus chilensis)

Chilean flamingo

Chilean flamingo 1920 1132 AMP Argentina

© Fabian Pinasco

The Chilean flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis) is found throughout Argentina, from Jujuy to Santa Cruz, with fewer reproductive colonies in Patagonia. This species tends to gather in natural bodies of mainly freshwater, although they can also be seen in coastal waters, such as Puerto Madryn. The Chilean flamingo is classified as “Vulnerable” in Argentina (MADS and AA, 2017) and as “Near Threatened” globally (BirdLife International, 2018). The main threats it faces include habitat loss and climate change.

Species status tables, by year.

Select the year to display the status tables.

  • CITATION
    CONSERVATION STATUS (IUCN criteria)
    Global Near Threatened, 2018 1
    Regional – Patagonian Sea Not Evaluated
    Argentina Vulnerable, 2015 2
    POPULATION SIZE (Individuals)
    Global 300,000 1
    Argentina (without Islas Malvinas) 200,000 2
    Isla Malvinas Occasional Presence 3
    South Atlantic Islands (South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands) Not Present
    POPULATION TREND
    Global Decreasing 1
    Argentina (without Islas Malvinas) No data
    Isla Malvinas Occasional Presence 3
    South Atlantic Islands (South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands) Not Present
    CURRENT SITUATION IN ARGENTINA
    Total Number of Registered Coastal Sites in Argentina 15 4,5,6
    Number of Protected Coastal Sites in Argentina 12 4 to 7
    Number of Coastal Sites with Increasing Population Trends 0
    Number of Coastal Sites with Decreasing Population Trends 0
    Number of Coastal Sites with Stable Population Trends 0
    Number of Coastal Sites with Unknown Population Trends 15

Marine Protected Areas with the presence of the species

  • Bahía Samborombón Wildlife Refuge
  • Punta Rasa Municipal Nature Reserve
  • Mar Chiquita Wildlife Refuge
  • Bahía Blanca, Bahía Falsa y Bahía Verde Provincial Multiple Use Nature Reserve
  • San Blas Wildlife Refuge
  • Bahía de San Antonio Protected Natural Area
  • Península Valdés Protected Natural Area
  • Patagonia Austral Interjurisdictional Coastal Marine Park
  • Península San Julián Provincial Reserve
  • Aves Migratorias Provincial Reserve
  • Islote Lobos National Park and Reserve

Marine areas of intensive use by the species

  • Occasional visitor in brackish coastal areas. Nests in colonies in inland salt lagoons.
  1. BirdLife International. 2018. Phoenicopterus chilensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22697365A132068236. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22697365A132068236.en 
  2. Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sustentable y Aves Argentina. (2017). Categorización de las Aves de la Argentina (2015). Informe del Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sustentable de la Nación y de Aves Argentinas, edición electrónica. Buenos Aires, Argentina. 
  3. Wood, R. (2015). Species lists of birds for South American countries and territories: Islas Malvinas. South American Classification Committee. Recuperado de https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCCountryLists.htm  
  4. BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/greater-flamingo-phoenicopterus-roseus
  5. Petracci, P., Belenguer, F., Sotelo, M., Marbán, L., Delhey, K., Fulvio Perez, C. (2020). Nidificación del Flamenco Austral (Phoenicopterus chilensis Molina, 1782) en un ambiente marino-costero de la bahía Anegada, provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Historia Natural 10, 107–121. 
  6. Llanos, F.A., Failla, M., García, G.J., Giovine, P.M., Carbajal, M., González, P.M., Barreto, D.P., Quillfeldt, P., Masello, J.F. (2011). Birds from the endangered Monte, the steppes and coastal biomes of the province of Río Negro, northern Patagonia, Argentina. Check List 7, 782–797.  
  7. WCS Argentina Database – Marine Program

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