Chilean Flamingo

Phoenicopterus chilensis

Diet

The Chilean flamingo uses its feet to stir up food, such as shrimp and algae.

Habitat

Found in freshwater and saltwater lakes and lagoons.

Nesting

Builds a 2-foot high mud nest and lays 1 egg. Incubation is 27-31 days. Chicks leave the nest and form a crèche, a group of similar-aged chicks, 5-12 days after hatching. The crèche is watched over by a few adults.

Did you know?

At hatching, a flamingo chick is gray and has a straight beak. The beak begins to change shape at 10-12 weeks old. The feathers begin to turn pink after 1-2 years of eating a beta-carotine rich diet.