File:Flamencos de James (Phoenicoparrus jamesi), Laguna de Salinas, Arequipa, Perú, 2015-08-02, DD 20.JPG

James's Flamingo

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James's Flamingo, also known as the Puna Flamingo, is a rare and delicate flamingo species found in the high Andes, often alongside the Andean Flamingo. It is smaller and paler pink, with distinctive bright red patches on its legs and a bright yellow bill with a black tip. This species is adapted to extreme high-altitude environments.

Where to spot

Endemic to the high Andes of Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. Inhabits high-altitude saline and alkaline lakes (altiplanos) between 2,500m and 4,500m elevation.

How to spot

Identify by its small size, pale pink plumage, bright red 'knees' (tarsal joints), and a unique yellow bill with a small black tip. Often found mixed in flocks with Andean Flamingos, making careful observation of leg and bill color crucial for identification. Access requires travel to high elevations.

When to spot

Resident year-round in its high-altitude habitat, with some local movements. Breeding occurs during the austral summer (December-February). Best observed during daylight hours at remote Andean lakes.

Where to spot

Endemic to the high Andes of Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. Inhabits high-altitude saline and alkaline lakes (altiplanos) between 2,500m and 4,500m elevation.

How to spot

When to spot

Resident year-round in its high-altitude habitat, with some local movements. Breeding occurs during the austral summer (December-February). Best observed during daylight hours at remote Andean lakes.

Credits: Wikimedia Commons

James's Flamingo has an exceptionally long and complex filter-feeding apparatus within its bill, allowing it to consume microscopic diatoms that other flamingos cannot efficiently filter.

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