Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Regis Nossent,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis, José Luis Cartes, Rebecca Zarza and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.
PHOENICOPTERIDAE - FLAMINGOS
Single species in Paraguay, immediately recognisable by its long neck and legs (proportionately longer than any other bird family) and predominately pink plumage. Seventeen elongated cervical vertebrae five the neck a "stepped" appearance when it is bent. The head is small. Flamingos have a unique "upside-down" feeding method. The bill is strongly bent, almost right-angled and armed with lamellae, which act as filters. The horny tongue works like a piston inside the bill, alternately sucking up and expelling water. The strange bill shape assures that when the mandibles are open the gap is approximately equal along the entire length preventing the ingestion of over-large particles and maximising feeding efficiency. Feet are comparatively small with four toes, the front three being webbed. The tibia show reduced feathering, enabling them to wade deeply. They are capable of swimming though they rarely do so. Flight is swift and direct with extended neck and legs, flocks fly together in formation. Moult cycle is irregular and poorly understood. Breeding is colonial and while the species is not known to breed regularly in Paraguay remains of a single old nest have been found in the Paraguayan Chaco. Males are slightly larger than females.
REFERENCES
Campbell B & Lack E 1985 - A Dictionary of Birds - T & AD Poyser.
del Hoyo J 1992 - Phoenicopteridae Handbook of the Birds of the World Volume 1 - Lynx Ediciones.
Ogilvie C & Ogilvie M 1986 - Flamingos - Sutton.
