(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species flamingo, greater
Species Id M040042
Date 26 AUG 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - flamingo, greater
OTHER COMMON NAMES -
ELEMENT CODE - 02/14/85
AOU CODE - 06/04/85
CATEGORY - Birds
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - Chordata, Vertebrata
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - Aves,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - Ciconiiformes,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - Phoenicopteridae,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - Phoenicopterus,
SPECIES AND SSP - ruber,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - Phoenicopterus ruber
AUTHORITY - Linnaeus
TAXONOMY REFERENCES - 624, 421 and 2484
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Formerly under the order Odontoglossae *421*
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species flamingo, greater
Species Id M040042
Date 26 AUG 96
STATUS
Coded Status
Federal Migratory
Nongame-Protected
Accidental
See Comments
REFERENCES FOR STATUS - 700 and 758
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
999 = taken as food by native peoples in breeding areas
*421*
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Distribution
Species flamingo, greater
Species Id M040042
Date 26 AUG 96
DISTRIBUTION
References on County Occurrence - 820, 163, 001, 810 and 999
References on Seasonal Occurrence - Accidental, at least 4 records *700*
References on County Abundance - 810, 001, 999, 820, 163 and 999
OTHER DISTRIBUTION
REFERENCES FOR OTHER DISTRIBUTION - A
Distribution - 1 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - Terrestrial
REFERENCES FOR HABITAT - 421
U_S. FOREST SERVICE FOREST SIZE CLASS
Pole
Mature
REFERENCES FOR FSIZE - 421
LAND USE -
Forest Land
Deciduous Forest Land
Water
Streams and Canals
Lakes
Bays and Estuaries
Wetland
Forested Wetland
Nonforested Wetland
Barren Land
Beaches
Mixed Barren Land
REFERENCES FOR LAND USE - 421, 606, 2484, 4259 and 4257
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Marine, intertidal BB2 N 1
Estuarine, intertidal FL3
Lacustrine, littoral UB3
Palustrine OW0
Palustrine FO3
REFERENCES FOR NWI - 421, 606, 2484 and 4259
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
SAF = breeds in mangrove and buttonwood *421*
ANIMAL/PLANT SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS -
Rhynchalloptes pyrgognathus (mite)
Newcastle disease (virus)
REFERENCES FOR SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS - 4258 and 4256
POTENTIAL NATURAL VEGETATION -
065 Northern Cordgrass Prairie (Distichlis-Spartina)
101 Oak - Hickory - Pine Forest (Quercus-Carya-Pinus)
REFERENCES FOR PNV - 700
Habitat Associations - 1 ECOREGION -
Appalachian Oak Forest: Plains with Low Mountains
Southeastern Mixed Forest: Flat Plains
REFERENCES FOR ECOREGION - 700
Habitat Associations - 2 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species flamingo, greater
Species Id M040042
Date 26 AUG 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
Carnivore
REFERENCES FOR TROPHIC LEVEL - 606 and 2484
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Bivalve Molluscs Not Specified
General Cypriniformes Adult stage
General Annelids Not Specified
General Haptophyceae Not Specified
General Molluscs Not Specified
General Osteichthyes Adult stage
General Insects Larva stage
General Animals Larva stage
General Chrysophyta Not Specified
General Animals Adult stage
General Chlorophyta Not Specified
General Copepods Not Specified
General Plants Fruit/Seeds
General Crustaceans Not Specified
General Protozoans Not Specified
Important Molluscs Not Specified
Important Crustaceans Not Specified
Important Animals Not Specified
Adult Bivalve Molluscs Not Specified
Adult Cypriniformes Adult stage
Adult Annelids Not Specified
Adult Haptophyceae Not Specified
Adult Molluscs Not Specified
Adult Osteichthyes Adult stage
Adult Insects Larva stage
Adult Animals Larva stage
Adult Chrysophyta Not Specified
Adult Animals Adult stage
Adult Chlorophyta Not Specified
Adult Copepods Not Specified
Adult Plants Fruit/Seeds
Adult Crustaceans Not Specified
Adult Protozoans Not Specified
REFERENCES FOR GENERAL FOOD - 606, 2484 and 4259
REFERENCES FOR IMPORTANT FOOD - 4259
REFERENCES FOR ADULT FOOD - 606, 2484 and 4259
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species flamingo, greater
Species Id M040042
Date 26 AUG 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Turbidity: Murky water [High turbidity]
G Substrate: Mud or silt
G Substrate: Wood
G Relation to Substrate: Occurs on substrate [not penetrating]
G Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Mud or silt
G Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Shallows with emergent vegetation [littoral zone]
G Water Level: Permanently flooded areas
G Water Level: Semi-permanently flooded areas
G Water Level: Seasonal/Alternatiely flooded areas
G Water Level: Semi-permanently exposed
G Alkalinity: Specified in Comments
G Water Depth Preference: Less than 1 ft.
G Water Depth Preference: 1-5 ft.
G Soil Moisture: Wet
G Soil Moisture: Moist
G Terrestrial Features: Bare ground
G Coastal Features: Sand beaches
G Coastal Features: Sand bars
G Coastal Features: Mudflats
G Coastal Features: Sandy offshore islands
G Coastal Features: Vegetated offshore islands
G Inland Wetlands: Inland open fresh water
G Inland Wetlands: Shrub swamps
G Inland Wetlands: Wooded swamps
G Inland Wetlands: Inland open saline water
G Coastal Wetlands: Coastal shallow fresh marsh
G Coastal Wetlands: Coastal salt flats
G Coastal Wetlands: Mangrove swamps
LIM Coastal Features: Vegetated offshore islands
LIM Substrate: Mud or silt
LIM Coastal Features: Mudflats
LIM Coastal Features: Sandy offshore islands
LIM Relation to Substrate: Occurs on substrate [not penetrating]
LIM Soil Moisture: Wet
LIM Terrestrial Features: Bare ground
LIM Coastal Features: Sand beaches
LIM Soil Moisture: Moist
LIM Coastal Features: Sand bars
LIM Water Level: Semi-permanently flooded areas
LIM Coastal Wetlands: Mangrove swamps
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species flamingo, greater
Species Id M040042
Date 26 AUG 96
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
LIM Water Level: Seasonal/Alternatiely flooded areas
LIM Inland Wetlands: Wooded swamps
LIM Water Level: Specified in Comments
FA Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Shallows with emergent vegetation [littoral zone]
FA Water Level: Semi-permanently exposed
FA Turbidity: Murky water [High turbidity]
FA Alkalinity: Specified in Comments
FA Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Mud or silt
FA Inland Wetlands: Inland open saline water
FA Inland Wetlands: Inland open fresh water
FA Water Level: Permanently flooded areas
FA Coastal Wetlands: Coastal shallow fresh marsh
FA Water Level: Semi-permanently flooded areas
FA Coastal Wetlands: Coastal salt flats
FA Water Level: Seasonal/Alternatiely flooded areas
RA Coastal Wetlands: Coastal salt flats
RA Inland Wetlands: Inland open saline water
RA Inland Wetlands: Inland open fresh water
BA Coastal Features: Vegetated offshore islands
BA Substrate: Mud or silt
BA Coastal Features: Mudflats
BA Coastal Features: Sandy offshore islands
BA Substrate: Wood
BA Soil Moisture: Wet
BA Terrestrial Features: Bare ground
BA Relation to Substrate: Occurs on substrate [not penetrating]
BA Soil Moisture: Moist
BA Coastal Features: Sand bars
BA Coastal Features: Sand beaches
BA Coastal Wetlands: Mangrove swamps
BA Water Level: Semi-permanently flooded areas
BA Inland Wetlands: Wooded swamps
BA Water Level: Seasonal/Alternatiely flooded areas
REFERENCES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 421, 606, 2484, 4259 and 4257
REFERENCES FOR LIMITING ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 421, 2484, 4259 and 4257
REFERENCES FOR FEEDING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 421, 606, 2484 and 4259
REFERENCES FOR RESTING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 4257
REFERENCES FOR BREEDING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 421, 2484, 4259 and 4257
COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS -
00220S = 00260S = Feeds in highly saline or highly alkaline
waters, less often in brackish or freshwater habitats *606,4259*; 00200S
= nests on muddy flats with enough moisture to make nest of mud but
where water levels will not flood nest *421,2484,4259*
Environment Associations - 2 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species flamingo, greater
Species Id M040042
Date 26 AUG 96
COMMENTS ON FEEDING ADULT ENVIRONTAL ASSOC_ -
00220S = 00260S = feeds primarily in highly saline and
highly alkaline habitats, less often in brackish and freshwater habitats
*606,4259*
Environment Associations - 3 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species flamingo, greater
Species Id M040042
Date 26 AUG 96
LIFE HISTORY
ORIGIN: exotic (accidental) *700*; PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:
bulky bill bent sharply downward at midpoint, distal 2/5 black, very
long neck and legs, feathering varies from largely white tinged with
pink to vermillion, wing coverts are highly colored, most flight
feathers are black, legs and feet almost entirely reddish, sexes similar
with males decidedly larger, length to 50 inches, wingspread to 60
inches, weight 6.5 (female) to 8 (male) lbs *606,2484*; REPRODUCTION:
breeding season = Feb-Jun depending on locality *421,606,2484*;
incubation period = 28-32 days *421,606,2484*; reproductive periods/year
= 1 brood/season *421,606,2484*; breeding behavior = colonial,
monogamous, detailed by sources *421,606,2484*; minimum breeding age =
2-3 yrs *2484*; clutch size = 1, rarely 2 *421,606,2484*; BEHAVIOR:
territoriality = at nest site during breeding season *2484*; daily
periodicity = feeds day and night, travels primarily at night *2484*;
migration = partial migration for breeding/wintering 8606,2484*;
foraging strategy/sites = gregarious wader in shallow water, sometimes
with head submerged, uses treading or dancing motion to float prey to
surface, sifts mud and water through bill, feeds in highly saline or
alkaline wetland habitats, often desolate areas, less often in brackish
or freshwater habitats *421,606,2484,4259*; nest site = on coastal
islands under mangrove or buttonwood, also on beaches and mudflats in
habitats with seasonally fluctuating water levels, nest composed of mud
piled in a cone shape as much as 1 foot high and 23 inches in diameter
at the base *421,606,2484*; development of young = synchronous hatching,
precocial and semi-nidifugous, fledge at 70-75 days *421,606,2484*;
parental care of young = both parents brood and feed young, chick is
guarded until about 8-10 days *2484,421*; limiting factors: proper water
level at nest site *2484*; population parameters: survival rates = an
average of 31.5% of total eggs laid fledged in breeding years; since the
population did not breed in all years, the overall annual fledging
success was 12.8% of total eggs laid *4259*; AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL
ASSOCIATIONS: predation of eggs and young primarily by turkey vultures
*4218
REFERENCES FOR LIFE HISTORY- 421, 700, 606, 2484 and 4259
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species flamingo, greater
Species Id M040042
Date 26 AUG 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human disturbance of populations
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human use of habitats
Beneficial Maintaining undisturbed/undeveloped areas
Beneficial Maintaining unique or special habitat features [wetlands, caves,
Beneficial Developing/maintaining brackish marsh
Beneficial Developing/maintaining saline marsh
Beneficial Developing/maintaining freshwater marsh
Beneficial Developing/maintaining mudflats
Beneficial Developing/maintaining/protecting wetlands
Beneficial Controlling water levels
Adverse Draining wetlands, marshes, ponds, lakes
REFERENCES FOR BENEFICIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - 421, 606, 2484 and 4259
REFERENCES FOR ADVERSE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - 606 and 2484
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species flamingo, greater
Species Id M040042
Date 26 AUG 96
References
606* Palmer, R.S. 1962. Handbook of North American Birds. I.
Yale Univ. Press New Haven, Conn:557.
624* Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S. 1966. Birds of North
America: A Guide to Field Identification. Golden Press New York,
N.Y:340.
700* Ornithology, Virginia Society of. 1979. Virginia's
Birdlife: An Annotated Check-list. Virginia Avifauna No. 2.
Virginia Society of Ornithology Lynchburg, Va:118.
758* (ed.)1982. Fish and wildlife. 50 CFR 10 (Code of Federal
Regulations). General Serv. Admin. Washington, D.C:7.
2484* Bent, A.C. 1922. Life histories of North American petrels
and pelicans and their allies. Dover Publ., Inc. New York:355.
4256* Peterson, P.C., Atyed, W.T. 1977. An odd species of
feather mite from flamingos (Acarina: Alloptidae). Acarologia
18(4):723-728.
4257* Wiley, J.W., Wiley, B.N. 1979. Status of the American
flamingo in the Dominican Republic and eastern Haiti. Auk
96(3):615-619.
4258* Kaleta, E.F., Marschall, H.J. 1981. Newcastle disease in a
zoo affecting Demoiselle cranes (Anthropoides virgo, greater
flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) and a pied imperial pigeon
(Ducula bicolor). Avian Pathol. 10(3):395-402.
4259* Brown, L.H., Powell-Cotton, D., Hopcraft, J.B.D. 1973. The
breeding of the greater flamingo and great white pelican in east
Africa. Ibis 115(3):352-374.
References - 1