James's flamingo

James's flamingo, also known as the puna flamingo, is a captivating bird that inhabits the high-altitude Andean plateaus of Peru, Chile, Bolivia, and northwestern Argentina. Named after the British naturalist Harry Berkeley James, this species was once presumed extinct until a remote population was rediscovered in 1956. James's flamingo is closely related to the Andean flamingo, with both species belonging to the genus Phoenicoparrus.

In comparison to the Andean flamingo, James's flamingo is smaller, approximately the same size as the lesser flamingo. They possess distinctive physical characteristics: a long neck with 19 cervical vertebrae, slender legs, pale pink feathers adorned with carmine streaks, and bright yellow eyes and bill. These flamingos are filter feeders, primarily consuming diatoms and other microscopic algae present in Andean lakes. Their bills feature a specialized filtering mechanism that allows them to efficiently feed in shallow waters.

James's flamingos typically begin breeding at around six years of age, though their breeding cycles can be irregular, occasionally skipping years. Their mating rituals are a spectacle, involving vocalizations, head movements, and elaborate courtship displays. Females lay a single egg in a mud nest, with both parents taking turns incubating it for about 26-31 days. The chicks are born with white and grey feathers, pink legs, and grey eyes.

Unfortunately, James's flamingo is classified as near threatened due to declining populations. This decline is primarily driven by habitat destruction, egg poaching, and environmental threats that impact their food sources. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this unique species and ensure its survival in the Andean region.