Here are a few shots of the somewhat rare James’s Flamingos enjoying themselves at the Laguna Colorada in the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve in southwest Bolivia. What a bill!

Also known as the Puna Flamingo, they can be found in high altitude Andean plateaus in Peru, Chile, Bolivia and Argentina, but they dominate the large Laguna Colorada (Red Lagoon) where they feed on the red algae which gives the lagoon its color and name. James’s is the smallest of the four New World flamingos, best identified by its relatively short, stubby bill, which is yellow with a black tip. It’s named for Harry Berkeley James, a British naturalist who studied the bird. (A bit of history on him is here.)

How to distinguish them from other New World flamingos? From Wikipedia:

The James’s flamingo is similar to most of the flamingo species in South America, but the Chilean flamingo is pinker, with a longer bill (which is not yellow), and the Andean flamingo is larger, with more black in the wings and bill, and with yellow legs. The easiest way to distinguish James’s flamingos is by their lighter-colored feathers and the bright yellow on their bills.

Twelve more photos below. This first set from the Laguna Colorada in the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve provides a bit more context about this flamingo’s high altitude habitat.

James’s Flamingo (Phoenicoparrus jamesi) in brief (with assist from WordPress AI but double-checked by me at Birds of the World and Wikipedia):

• Size: Approximately 80-90 cm (31-35 in) tall
• Diet: Primarily feeds on red algae, small invertebrates, and other aquatic organisms
• Habitat: Prefers high-altitude salt flats, alkaline lakes, and lagoons in the Andes
• Physical Description: Characterized by a pinkish body, a distinctive downturned beak, and long legs; juvenile birds are grayish-brown
• Breeding: Nesting occurs in colonies; lays one egg in a mud nest, typically during the rainy season
• Conservation Status: Listed as ” Near Threatened” by the IUCN due to habitat loss and human disturbance
• Unique Behaviors: Known for their synchronized feeding and social behavior, often seen in large flocks
• Range and Migration: Distributed across high-altitude regions in Peru, Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina; generally non-migratory but may move locally in response to environmental conditions

For further reading and reference:

• James’s Flamingo at Birds of the World
• James’s Flamingo at BirdLife DataZone
• James’s Flamingo at eBird
• James’s Flamingo at Avibase
• James’s Flamingo Wikipedia
• James’s Flamingo at Oiseaux.net
• James’s Flamingo at iNaturalist

Originally published on my blog, Piran Café, which is no longer being updated and moved here on 27 June, 2017. Reprocessed photos and updated links added on 8 December 2025.