Gender determination by body weight and linear measurements in American and Chilean flamingos, previously surgically sexed: Within‐sex comparison to greater flamingo measurements

Gender was determined by laparoscopic visualization of the gonads for 38 adult American flamingos ( Phoenicopterus ruber ruber L. ) and 36 adult Chilean flamingos ( P. chilensis L. ). Concomitant body weight (kg) and linear measurements (mm) of the culmen (bill), tarsus (tarsometatarsus), middle toe, and wing were taken. Statistical comparisons of body weight and linear measurements for male vs. female were made for each species. Also, the same‐sex statistical comparisons were made between these two species, and between each of these two species and with data for greater flamingos ( P. r. roseas L. ) from a previous publication. As previously published for greater flamingos, an overlap between sexes existed in all measurements with males on average larger than females for both American and Chilean flamingos. However, Students' t‐test indicated a significant sexual difference for all measurements between males and females of each species except for culmen length in Chilean flamingos. Students' t ‐test also indicated a significant difference when species were compared (Chilean vs. greater, and American vs. Chilean) and subspecies (American vs. greater) were compared for most of the 5 measurements. Thus, despite limitations imposed by between‐sex overlap, weights and linear measurements, especially tarsus, middle toe, and wing length, appear to be useful in determining an individual's gender when species or subspecies identification is considered.