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Chilean Flamingo
Paignton Zoo is famous for its flock of 61 Chilean flamingos that live on the lagoon at the very entrance to the zoo.
Class:
Aves
Order:
Phoenicopteriformes
Family:
Phoenicopteridae
About the Chilean flamingo
The Chilean flamingo inhabits saline and alkaline lakes across southern South America, including Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru. Its pale pink plumage, long neck, and slender legs make it one of the most recognisable wetland birds.
Flamingos are filter-feeders, sweeping their specialised bills through shallow water to collect algae and small invertebrates. They live in large flocks, often numbering in the hundreds in the wild.
Conservation
The species is classified as Near Threatened, with water extraction, disturbance, and wetland loss across South America posing ongoing risks.