Distribution update for the American Flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber, and first record for southern Tamaulipas, Mexico

Abstract

In Mexico, the American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) is considered a species limited to northern Yucatan, however, there may be more records documenting its distribution in other parts of the country. We conducted boat trips in the marshes of Ejido Armenta, Tamaulipas, Mexico. On 27 October 2023 and 14 August 2024 we observed for the first time a group of three and 14 individuals of the American Flamingo, perching and foraging in a wetland. We reviewed data on the iNaturalistMX and GBIF platforms, obtaining 2,745 observations that were used to generate with MaxEnt 3.3 an updated map of potential distribution of the American Flamingo in the Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic and Pacific coast. The model indicated a higher probability of occurrence in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, Cuba, and Florida, USA. These regions have low altitude, high solar radiation, and specific levels of precipitation and temperature, which were the variables with greatest contribution to model prediction, with a 50% to 70% probability of occurrence. These records highlight the importance of wetlands for the establishment of this species, generating new information on its distribution in southern Tamaulipas and the country.