The Chilean flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis) is a large species of flamingo at 110–130 cm closely related to Caribbean flamingo and greater flamingo, with which it was sometimes considered conspecific. With tall, thin legs and a long, flexible neck, the Chilean flamingo can reach up to 40 inches in height. Like all flamingos, it has striking pink plumage, including crimson highlights along the edges of the wings. What appears to be the bird's knee is actually its ankle—the joint bends backward rather than forward. The Chilean flamingo is found on salt-lakes, mudflats, estuaries and lagoons in South America, from Peru to southern Argentina and Chile, including parts of Bolivia, Paraguay, and southern Brazil. They are unable to drink salt water – they drink from springs and puddles, and can even absorb rainwater through their feathers.
