A visit to your local zoo, regardless of where you are in the world, may result in seeing some Chilean Flamingos.
Since they are called Chilean, are they really from Chile?
The name is derived from their scientific name, Phoenicopterus chilensis, and where they were discovered.
The Chilean Flamingo was first identified scientifically by the Chilean naturalist, Juan Ignacio Molina in 1782.
While the Chilean Flamingo does live in Chile, it isn’t exclusive to this country.
According to Bird Life:
The Chilean Flamingo breeds in central Peru (apparently erratically, irregularly and in small numbers), Bolivia, Argentina, Chile and perhaps erratically in Paraguay (at least one breeding record), with a few wintering in Uruguay and south-east Brazil, and vagrants in Ecuador and the Falkland Islands (Malvinas).
In Chile, you’ll typically find the Chilean Flamingo in Salar de Surire, Salar de Atacama, Reserva Nacional El Yali, Isla de Chiloé and in Chilean Patagonia.
So is the Chilean Flamingo from Chile?
It was discovered by a Chilean.
It was named “chilensis.”
It lives in Chile.
So, yes, we’ll call the Chilean Flamingo a true Chilean. It is definitely more Chilean than the Chilean Sea Bass.
