One of the most striking birds of the high mountains, living in the high Andes where the landscape looks almost otherworldly—salt flats that gleam white, shallow lakes tinted turquoise or rust, and distant volcanoes under an intense sky. It has the classic flamingo shape, with long legs and a long neck, but its overall look is often softer and more delicate than you might expect. Many individuals appear a gentle pale pink, sometimes with a faint blush that seems to glow against the bright, mineral-colored surroundings.

One of the Andean flamingo’s most distinct characteristics is how perfectly it fits its extreme home. It spends much of its life at very high elevations where nights can be freezing, winds can be sharp, and the sun can feel fierce even in cold air. Instead of struggling, it carries on with calm purpose—standing for long periods, walking steadily through shallow water, and feeding with a slow, practiced rhythm. Like other flamingos, it eats by filtering tiny food from the water, but the Andean flamingo is especially tied to mineral-rich lakes where its favorite microscopic meals thrive. Its bill is strongly adapted for this kind of feeding, and you’ll often see it with its head upside down in the water, sweeping slightly and making small, repeated motions as it strains food from the lake.

Compared with other South American flamingos, the Andean flamingo has a combination of features that help set it apart. It is generally rarer and more restricted to high-altitude habitats than the more widespread Chilean flamingo, which can use lower wetlands and coastal areas. The Andean flamingo often looks paler overall than its close relative James’s (puna) flamingo, which can appear brighter and is frequently seen in larger numbers. Small details, like the pattern of dark and lighter areas on the bill and the coloring of the legs, can help careful observers tell them apart, especially when mixed flocks gather at the same lakes.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Argentina

2020

Bolivia

2020

Brazil

2020

Non-Breeding

Chile

2020

Peru

2020