Chilean Flamingos
At the heart of the zoo are some of the world’s most unique birds. We are home to a flamboyance of male and female Chilean flamingos.
Balancing champions
Flamingos are famous for their bright pink feathers which come from their high carotenoid diet. Known for standing on one foot, flamingos do this when they rest to conserve body heat. Its S-shaped neck has 19 vertebrae to allow for maximum flexibility when preening its feathers.
- IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened (likely to become vulnerable in the near future)
- Type: Bird
- Habitat: Saltwater lakes, coastal estuaries, and lagoons in South America
- Diet: Omnivore – shrimp, snails, and algae
- Size: 91 to 127 centimetres tall
- Weight: 1.8 to 3.1 kilograms
Facts about our animals
Fun Facts about Chilean Flamingos
A flamingo chick will start out white and gain its pink colour through its diet.
Flamingo parents take turns laying on the egg and feeding a chick.
A flamingo’s knee is very high, hidden beneath its feathers.
Flamingos are serially monogamous.
They will spend 30% of their day preening their feathers.
Flamingos secrete an oil near the base of their tail that they use to waterproof and brighten their feathers.
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