Chilean Flamingo Chicks

Think pink! Lincoln Park Zoo recently welcomed two Chilean flamingo chicks to Waterfowl Lagoon. The as-yet-unnamed chicks were born on August 22 and 29 after a month-long incubation period and are being raised by experienced foster parents behind the scenes until they become more independent.

Fostering is a common practice at Associaton of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited zoos that helps ensure the best possible chance of survival. The birth of the chicks is part of the Chilean Flamingo Species Survival Plan®, an AZA program that manages populations in member institutions.

Chilean flamingos incubate eggs for around a month. And now that they’ve hatched, it will take about two years for the chicks to take on the beautiful color we associate with flamingos. These fluffy youngsters appear whitish-gray right now. However, their parents secrete a hormone called prolactin, which stimulates the crop gland to produce “milk.” The milk contains the pigment canthaxanthin, giving it a bright red color that fades over time. Both parents feed this crop milk to the chicks, although they are already starting to eat on their own as well. They continue to be monitored by zoo staff.

The foster parents will continue to feed the chicks until they fledge, or when their wing feathers become developed enough to allow them to fly. Also, their beaks will develop a bend. These features emerge around 65–70 days after hatching. In the wild, the growing birds join other young flamingos—all born around the same time—in groups called crèches, which are supervised by small numbers of adults who act as guardians.

Chilean flamingos are listed as Near Threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. They are vulnerable to acts such as egg harvesting and hunting, and suffer from habitat changes that result from mining and recreational activities in their native wetlands in South America. That makes these zoo births meaningful in creating a stable population under human management.

Once the flamingo chicks are ready to be outside, the weather in Chicago will be trending colder. But don’t worry! Chilean flamingos are well adapted to wintry conditions, as they originate from high elevations and migrate over the Andes Mountains. Their feathers provide an insulating layer, and they can tuck their heads and feet into their bodies to keep them warmer. They also have access to a climate-controlled indoor space. Still, you’ll have some great opportunities to watch the birds grow as fall progresses in the Chicago area.