These are Chilean flamingos (Phoenicopterus chilensis) engaging in courtship. They generally pair for life and can live to be in their fifties (at least in captivity). I studied these and some were over 50 years old. This pair, amongst others are in a captive setting. This is an archive photograph from years ago when I did my MSc at the local Zoo. I live in Devon, UK. This species is Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List due to its decreasing population trend. It is distributed from the Andes to the Patagonia of Western South America and other South American countries such as Uraguay, Argentina,Bolivia, Brazil, Peru and Bolivia. Its main habitat is muddy, alkaline and brackish mountainous lakes, but can also occur at sea level. They can breed throughout the year on muddy mounds that they construct. The species consumes small invertebrates and algae through filter feeding upside down using its long neck and sucking in via the tongue using its downward facing beak that features specialised lamellae. Their distinctive pinkish orange colour develops due to pigments inherited from its diet especially algae and brine shrimps.
These are Chilean flamingos (Phoenicopterus chilensis) engaging in courtship. They generally pair for life and can live to be in their fifties (at least in captivity). I studied these and some were over 50 years old. This pair, amongst others are in a captive setting. This is an archive photograph from years ago when I did my MSc at the local Zoo. I live in Devon, UK. This species is Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List due to its decreasing population trend. It is distributed from the Andes to the Patagonia of Western South America and other South American countries such as Uraguay, Argentina,Bolivia, Brazil, Peru and Bolivia. Its main habitat is muddy, alkaline and brackish mountainous lakes, but can also occur at sea level. They can breed throughout the year on muddy mounds that they construct. The species consumes small invertebrates and algae through filter feeding upside down using its long neck and sucking in via the tongue using its downward facing beak that features specialised lamellae. Their distinctive pinkish orange colour develops due to pigments inherited from its diet especially algae and brine shrimps.
These are Chilean flamingos (Phoenicopterus chilensis) engaging in courtship. They generally pair for life and can live to be in their fifties (at least in captivity). I studied these and some were over 50 years old. This pair, amongst others are in a captive setting. This is an archive photograph from years ago when I did my MSc at the local Zoo. I live in Devon, UK. This species is Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List due to its decreasing population trend. It is distributed from the Andes to the Patagonia of Western South America and other South American countries such as Uraguay, Argentina,Bolivia, Brazil, Peru and Bolivia. Its main habitat is muddy, alkaline and brackish mountainous lakes, but can also occur at sea level. They can breed throughout the year on muddy mounds that they construct. The species consumes small invertebrates and algae through filter feeding upside down using its long neck and sucking in via the tongue using its downward facing beak that features specialised lamellae. Their distinctive pinkish orange colour develops due to pigments inherited from its diet especially algae and brine shrimps.
@robcrank68.bsky.social #BirdOfTheDay #WaterDroplets. #Chilean #flamingo or it might have been a different individual because #photos taken at different times. Archive #photograph taken in captivity. #photo #bird #birds 🪶
