James's Flamingo

James's Flamingo

Puna flamingo, Parina, Parinagua

Kingdom
Phylum
Class
SPECIES
Phoenicoparrus jamesi
Population size
106,000
Life Span
20-30 years
Top speed
60
37
km/hmph
km/h mph 
Weight
2
4
kglbs
kg lbs 
Height
1
3
mft
m ft 
Length
90-92
35.4-36.2
cminch
cm inch 

James's flamingo (Phoenicoparrus jamesi ), also known as the puna flamingo, is a species of flamingo that lives at high altitudes in the Andean plateaus of Peru, Chile, Bolivia, and northwest Argentina.

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It is named for Harry Berkeley James, a British naturalist who studied the bird. James's flamingo is closely related to the Andean flamingo, and the two species are the only members of the genus Phoenicoparrus. The Chilean flamingo, Andean flamingo, and James's flamingo are all sympatric, and all live in colonies (including shared nesting areas). James's flamingo had been thought to be extinct until a population was discovered in a remote area in 1956.

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Appearance

The rarest species of the flamingo family, James's flamingo is a sympatric bird, meaning that it can be found amongst flocks of the Chilean and Andean flamingos. It was thought that James's flamingo was extinct, up until the 1950s, but then a small flock was discovered in a remote location. This bird has an oval body with pinkish-white feathers, black flight feathers, and shoulder feathers that are bright red and elongated. In the mating season, adults develop pinkish-red streaks on their breast. James's flamingo is unique among flamingos because it has no hind toe, and it also has a shorter bill than other flamingos.

Distribution

Geography

Continents
Biogeographical realms

James's flamingo occupies the high altitudes of Andean plateaus of Peru, Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina. It inhabits highland salt lakes with a soft substrate and relatively sparse vegetation. It breeds on islets or islands of sand or soft clay, and along the shores of salt lakes.

Climate zones

Habits and Lifestyle

James's flamingo lives in colonies, often numbering thousands. These huge groups of birds march together, often in a tightly packed flock. They are diurnal birds and spend most of their time feeding, preening, and resting. Their migration is not well understood, but it is known that flocks leave breeding grounds in higher altitudes when summer ends, possibly to move down to lower altitudes. Nonetheless, some birds stay at the breeding site, the hot springs within the area preventing the lakes from freezing during the cold weather. James's flamingos are noisy when in a flock, the voice being important for parents and chicks to be able to recognize each other. Several different calls are made, from the low gabbling sounds when feeding to nasal honking when in flight.

Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

James's flamingo is a herbivore and feeds on diatoms and other microscopic algae.

Mating Habits

MATING BEHAVIOR
REPRODUCTION SEASON
January-March
INCUBATION PERIOD
27-31 days
INDEPENDENT AGE
3 months
BABY NAME
chick
web.animal_clutch_size
1 egg

James's flamingos are monogamous and form strong pairs that may last for many years. They usually engage in collective displays with a series of ritualized movements and postures. During such displays, their pair-bonds are formed. The mating season is from January to March. These flamingos nest in large colonies, often together with other South American flamingos. The parents build the nest together and a single egg is laid. Incubation starts immediately, is shared by both parents, and lasts 27 to 31 days. Once the chick first hatches, it is fed "crop milk", which is from the upper digestive tract of the parents. When chicks are able to walk, they join together in crèches, watched over by several adult birds. When it is 3 months old, the chick can survive independently without help from the parents. Young flamingos reach reproductive maturity within about 3 to 4 years and develop full adult plumage.

Population

Population threats

The biggest threat to James's flamingos is the destruction of their habitat by humans. Environmental threats like heavy rainfall may affect the breeding of this species. Anything that threatens the abundance of their food source threatens James's flamingos.

Population number

According to the IUCN Red List, the total James’s flamingo population is about 106,000 individuals. This species is classified as near threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List but its population is stable currently.

Ecological niche

James's flamingos have an impact on the populations of aquatic algae and diatoms in the lakes where they live. In areas where there is a dense population of flamingos, there is an increase in competition, and the available food diminishes more quickly. James's flamingos assist in wetland conservation through their habitual use of such areas, continually stirring up sediment and fertilizing the area with their waste products.

Fun Facts for Kids

  • Flamingos are considered the world's most beautiful tall birds.
  • James's flamingos get their name from Harry Berkeley James, who was a British naturalist who made a study of the bird.
  • James's flamingo gets its common name "puna" from its habitat, being the local word for the high Andean plateau.
  • Flamingos rest or sleep on one leg to maintain body temperature and conserve energy.
  • A flamingo's long neck has 19 bones, the unusual beak, and feathers formed from keratin, a tough substance.
  • A flamingo has a large, fleshy soft tongue, quite rare among birds.
  • The bill of James's flamingo has many fine hairs, used to filter lake water.
  • A flamingo is able to sit down if it bends its legs backwards.
  • The legs of a flamingo are nearly 30 to 50 inches (76-127 cm) in length, much longer than their body, making them look gawky.
  • Flamingos are able to recognize and distinguish various colors.

Coloring Pages

References

1. James's Flamingo Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James%27s_flamingo
2. James's Flamingo on The IUCN Red List site - http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22697398/0
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/272896

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