It's not uncommon to come across a couple of flamingos while driving across Argentina, especially it refers northwestern regions. However, they are also found in central and southern regions. Normally you'll see two species in these lands—Andean or James’s flamingo. The best time to observe flamingos is when they breed in colonies at lakes. The breeding season is the Argentine summer—December through February.
During the breeding season, flamingos live in pairs. To attract a partner they perform an amazing dance with over a hundred moves. After the "wedding" they lay only one egg and after 30 days, a small white chick hatches. It is also interesting that a week after birth, little birds gather in a "nursery" of sorts—hundreds of babies are under the supervision of several adult birds. Only after three months, the babies can take care of themselves.
The most famous southern spot for flamingos watching is Reserva Laguna Nimez in Calafate, Santa Cruz Province. You'll see a plenty of these birds around lagoons across Argentine Patagonia. Far north has Monumento Natural Laguna de los Pozuelos which boasts a colony of up to 25,000 birds. Laguna Mar Chiquita in the Province of Cordoba in a popular site in central Argentina. Besides, flamingos nest around the lakes in the Province of La Pampa. Also, a breeding colony may occur on Valdes Peninsula.
So if you are looking for a bird show of dancing flamingos, check some of the spots listed above. Just note that flamingos are shy and wary birds and normally stay far from humans.
Practical info
When is the breeding season of flamingos in Argentina?
Flamingos breed between December and February, the Argentine summer, in colonies at lakes. During this time, they perform an elaborate dance with over a hundred moves to attract a partner, then live in pairs. After laying one egg, the chick hatches after 30 days. The younglings gather in a 'nursery' under the supervision of adult flamingos until they can look after themselves, which takes three months. Show more
What are some places in Argentina to see flamingo breeding colonies?
Reserva Laguna Nimez in Calafate, Santa Cruz Province, Argentine Patagonia is famous for flamingo watching. Lagoons across Argentine Patagonia harbor flamingos, and Monumento Natural Laguna de los Pozuelos in the far north hosts up to 25,000 birds. Additionally, flamingo breeding colonies are found in Valdes Peninsula and lakes in the Province of La Pampa. Show more
Which flamingo species can be found in Argentina?
Andean or James's flamingos are two species found in Argentina, particularly in northwestern, central, and southern locations. Flamingos form pairs and engage in intricate courtship dances during breeding season, migrating to lakes. They are typically shy, avoiding humans, and feed on shrimp and algae, which contributes to their distinct pink or reddish color. Show more
What is the timeline for a flamingo chick to become self-sufficient?
After hatching, the flamingo chick takes a week to gather with others under adult flamingos' supervision. It takes three months for the chick to become self-sufficient. Flamingos lay only one egg after performing an intricate courtship dance; the egg incubates for 30 days. Young flamingos have a white appearance and develop a pink or reddish color as they mature due to their diet of shrimp and algae. Show more
How can one safely view flamingos in Argentina?
To avoid disturbing or scaring them away, view flamingos in Argentina from a considerable distance. Avoid getting too close or interfering with their nesting area. Reserva Laguna Nimez has a bird observation platform at the lagoon's center, which provides birdwatchers an opportunity to observe flamingos and other waterfowl safely. Observe protection laws as some flamingo species are at risk of extinction. Show more
