Phoenicoparrus andinus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	PHOENICOPTERIFORMES	PHOENICOPTERIDAE

Scientific Name:

Phoenicoparrus andinus

Species Authority:

Philippi, 1854

Common Name/s:

English	–	Andean Flamingo
Spanish	–	Flamenco Andino, Parina Grande

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable A2bcd+3bcd+4bcd ver 3.1

Year Published:

2012

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Butchart, S. & Taylor, J.

Contributor/s:

Chebez, J. & Rocha, O.

Justification:
This species is listed as Vulnerable because it has undergone a rapid population decline owing to ongoing exploitation and declines in habitat quality. Although exploitation has decreased, the longevity and slow breeding of flamingos suggest that the legacy of past threats may persist through generations to come. Nevertheless, census data raise the possibility that the population has remained stable for at least the past decade, and confirmation of this would raise the possibility of a future downlisting.

History:

2008	–	Vulnerable
2006	–	Vulnerable
2004	–	Vulnerable
2000	–	Vulnerable
1996	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Vulnerable

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Phoenicoparrus andinus occurs on the high Andean plateaus of Peru, Chile, Bolivia and Argentina, with a resident population of c.100 at Laguna Mar Chiquita, Córdoba, lowland Argentina (Michelutti 1994, Cobos et al. 1999). It breeds at c.10 localities, notably Laguna Colorada and other salt-lakes in south-west Bolivia, Laguna de Salinas (Peru) and Salar de Atacama (Chile) (Rocha 1994, Flamingo Action Plan Questionnaire 1998, O. Rocha in litt. 2000). Breeding has been recorded in Argentina (Laguna Brava), but may only occur during strong El Niño years (Bucher et al. 2000). Population assessments are difficult and vary greatly (Hurlbert 1978, 1981, Scott and Carbonell 1986, Flamingo Action Plan Questionnaire 1998), but 50,000-100,000 individuals (Rocha and Quiroga 1997) may have been realistic until the mid-1980s. The 34,000 estimated in 1997 (Rocha and Quiroga 1997), suggests that it declined rapidly during the preceding 10-15 years (Flamingo Action Plan Questionnaire 1998). Breeding success appears to be consistently low (Flamingo Action Plan Questionnaire 1998), and thus declines may continue for many years, because flamingos have a high longevity (20-50 years) (del Hoyo 1992), however data from International Simultaneous Census and Simultaneous Census of Network Sites, including over 38,000 individuals recorded in 2010 (Marconi et al. 2011) suggests that the population may have been stable during 1997-2010.
Countries:	Native: Argentina; Bolivia, Plurinational States of; Chile; Peru Vagrant: Brazil
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The population estimate is derived from Rocha & Quiroga (1997), Flamingo Specialist Group & Grupo para la Conservaciande Flamencos Altoandinos in litt. (2005) to Wetlands International (2006); the total may be slightly higher as 38,675 individuals were counted in the 2010 International Simultaneous Census (Marconi et al. 2011).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is largely restricted to high mountain alkaline and salt-lakes, at 2,300-4,500 m. It may be nomadic in search of temporally patchy food supplies (mainly diatoms [del Hoyo 1992]). It breeds colonially, laying only one egg (unless first egg predated), mainly in December-February (del Hoyo 1992, O. Rocha in litt. 2000).
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The collecting of eggs to sell as food was intensive in the mid-20th century and the early 1980s, with thousands taken annually (Johnson 1965, Hurlbert 1981). Mining activities, unfavourable water-levels (owing to weather and manipulation), erosion of nest-sites and human disturbance may also affect productivity (Flamingo Action Plan Questionnaire 1998). Outside protected areas in Bolivia, there is a low level of hunting for food, oils and feathers, especially targeting immatures and juveniles (Rocha and Quiroga 1997,O. Rocha in litt. 2000).

Major Threat(s):

The collecting of eggs to sell as food was intensive in the mid-20th century and the early 1980s, with thousands taken annually (Johnson 1965, Hurlbert 1981). Mining activities, unfavourable water-levels (owing to weather and manipulation), erosion of nest-sites and human disturbance may also affect productivity (Flamingo Action Plan Questionnaire 1998). Outside protected areas in Bolivia, there is a low level of hunting for food, oils and feathers, especially targeting immatures and juveniles (Rocha and Quiroga 1997,O. Rocha in litt. 2000).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway CITES Appendix II. CMS Appendix I. Breeding occurs in Salinas and Aguada Blanca Nature Reserve, Peru (Ugarte-Nunez and Mosaurieta-Echegaray 2000), Salar de Atacama National Flamingo Reserve (del Hoyo 1992), Chile, Las Chinchillas Provincial Natural Reserve, Argentina, and Eduardo Avaroa National Faunal Reserve, Bolivia, with a protected non-breeding site at Laguna de los Pozuelos Natural Monument, Argentina (Flamingo Action Plan Questionnaire 1998). Conservation actions, locally including habitat management, prevention of egg-collecting and raising public awareness, are being undertaken (Flamingo Action Plan Questionnaire 1998, O. Rocha in litt. 2000). Conservation Actions Proposed Continue surveying high Andean salt-lakes (J. C. Chebez in litt. 1999) to monitor known populations and locate additional ones. Protect more sites and raise the status of existing reserves (Rocha and Quiroga 1997, O. Rocha in litt. 2000). Guard unprotected nest-sites (Rocha and Quiroga 1997).

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II. CMS Appendix I. Breeding occurs in Salinas and Aguada Blanca Nature Reserve, Peru (Ugarte-Nunez and Mosaurieta-Echegaray 2000), Salar de Atacama National Flamingo Reserve (del Hoyo 1992), Chile, Las Chinchillas Provincial Natural Reserve, Argentina, and Eduardo Avaroa National Faunal Reserve, Bolivia, with a protected non-breeding site at Laguna de los Pozuelos Natural Monument, Argentina (Flamingo Action Plan Questionnaire 1998). Conservation actions, locally including habitat management, prevention of egg-collecting and raising public awareness, are being undertaken (Flamingo Action Plan Questionnaire 1998, O. Rocha in litt. 2000).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Continue surveying high Andean salt-lakes (J. C. Chebez in litt. 1999) to monitor known populations and locate additional ones. Protect more sites and raise the status of existing reserves (Rocha and Quiroga 1997, O. Rocha in litt. 2000). Guard unprotected nest-sites (Rocha and Quiroga 1997).

Bibliography [top]

	Bucher, E. H.; Chani, J. M.; Echevarria, A. L. 2000. Andean Flamigos breeding at Laguna Brava, la Rioja, Argentina. Waterbirds 23(Special publication): 119-120. Cobos, V.; Miatello, R.; Baldo, J. 1999. Algunas especies de aves nuevas y otras con pocos registros para la provincia de Córdoba, Argentina. II. Nuestras Aves 39: 7-11. Delany, S.; Scott, D. 2006. Waterbird population estimates. Wetlands International, Wageningen, The Netherlands. del Hoyo, J. 1992. Phoenicopteridae (Flamingos). In: del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J. (ed.), Handbook of the birds of the world, pp. 508-526. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Hurlbert, S. H. 1978. Results of five flamingo censuses conducted between November 1975 and December 1977. Department of Biology, San Diego State University, California, San Diego. Hurlbert, S. H. 1981. Results of three flamingo censuses conducted between December 1978 and July 1980. Department of Biology, San Diego State University, California, San Diego. IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 2012.1). Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 19 June 2012). Johnson, A. W. 1965. The birds of Chile and adjacent regions of Argentina, Bolivia and Peru. Platt Establecimientos Gráficos, Buenos Aires. Marconi, P., Sureda, A. L., Arengo, F., Aguilar, M. S., Amado, N., Alza, L., Rocha, O., Torres, R., Moschione, F., Romano, M., Sosa, H., Derlindati, E. 2011. Fourth simultaneous flamingo census in South America: preliminary results. Flamingo 18: 48-53. Michelutti, P. L. 1994. Presencia de la Parina Chica (Phoenicoparrus jamesi) en la reserva de Mar Chiquita, Cordoba. Nuestras Aves 30: 26. Rocha O., O. 1994. Contribución preliminar a la conservación y el conocimiento de la ecología de flamencos en la Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina "Eduardo Avaroa", Departamento Potosí, Bolivia. Academia Nacional de Ciencas de Bolivia, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, La Paz. Rocha O., O.; Quiroga O., C. 1997. Primer censo simultáneo internacional de los flamencos Phoenicoparrus jamesi y Phoenicoparrus andinus en Argentina, Bolivia, Chile y Perú, con especial referencia y análisis al caso boliviano. Ecología en Bolivia 30: 33-42. Scott, D. A.; Carbonell, M. 1986. A directory of Neotropical wetlands. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and International Waterfowl Research Bureau, Cambridge and Slimbridge, U.K. Ugarte-Núñez, J. A.; Mosaurieta-Echegaray, L. 2000. Assessment of threats to Flamingos at the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Nature Reserve (Arequipa, Perú). Waterbirds 23(Special publication): 134-140.

Bucher, E. H.; Chani, J. M.; Echevarria, A. L. 2000. Andean Flamigos breeding at Laguna Brava, la Rioja, Argentina. Waterbirds 23(Special publication): 119-120.

Cobos, V.; Miatello, R.; Baldo, J. 1999. Algunas especies de aves nuevas y otras con pocos registros para la provincia de Córdoba, Argentina. II. Nuestras Aves 39: 7-11.

Delany, S.; Scott, D. 2006. Waterbird population estimates. Wetlands International, Wageningen, The Netherlands.

del Hoyo, J. 1992. Phoenicopteridae (Flamingos). In: del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J. (ed.), Handbook of the birds of the world, pp. 508-526. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.

Hurlbert, S. H. 1978. Results of five flamingo censuses conducted between November 1975 and December 1977. Department of Biology, San Diego State University, California, San Diego.

Hurlbert, S. H. 1981. Results of three flamingo censuses conducted between December 1978 and July 1980. Department of Biology, San Diego State University, California, San Diego.

IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 2012.1). Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 19 June 2012).

Johnson, A. W. 1965. The birds of Chile and adjacent regions of Argentina, Bolivia and Peru. Platt Establecimientos Gráficos, Buenos Aires.

Marconi, P., Sureda, A. L., Arengo, F., Aguilar, M. S., Amado, N., Alza, L., Rocha, O., Torres, R., Moschione, F., Romano, M., Sosa, H., Derlindati, E. 2011. Fourth simultaneous flamingo census in South America: preliminary results. Flamingo 18: 48-53.

Michelutti, P. L. 1994. Presencia de la Parina Chica (Phoenicoparrus jamesi) en la reserva de Mar Chiquita, Cordoba. Nuestras Aves 30: 26.

Rocha O., O. 1994. Contribución preliminar a la conservación y el conocimiento de la ecología de flamencos en la Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina "Eduardo Avaroa", Departamento Potosí, Bolivia. Academia Nacional de Ciencas de Bolivia, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, La Paz.

Rocha O., O.; Quiroga O., C. 1997. Primer censo simultáneo internacional de los flamencos Phoenicoparrus jamesi y Phoenicoparrus andinus en Argentina, Bolivia, Chile y Perú, con especial referencia y análisis al caso boliviano. Ecología en Bolivia 30: 33-42.

Scott, D. A.; Carbonell, M. 1986. A directory of Neotropical wetlands. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and International Waterfowl Research Bureau, Cambridge and Slimbridge, U.K.

Ugarte-Núñez, J. A.; Mosaurieta-Echegaray, L. 2000. Assessment of threats to Flamingos at the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Nature Reserve (Arequipa, Perú). Waterbirds 23(Special publication): 134-140.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2012. Phoenicoparrus andinus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 May 2013.
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