Greater flamingos are surprisingly good swimmers, though they tend to thrive on shallow mudflats and lagoons. The lesser flamingo is the smallest species of flamingo, though it is a tall and large bird by most standards. There are about 10,000 species of birds present in world. Greater flamingos are likely to be the only tall, pink bird in any given locale. The greater flamingo is the tallest of the six different species of flamingos, standing at 3.9 to 4.7 feet (1.2 to 1.4 m) with a weight up to 7.7 pounds (3.5 kg), and the shortest flamingo species (the lesser) has a height of 2.6 feet (0.8 m) and weighs 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg). Out of the six species of flamingo on our planet, the Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) is the most common and widespread member of the flamingo family. The Chilean Flamingo, James’s Flamingo, Andean and the American Flamingo, can all be found in South America, and the Caribbean Islands. Greater Flamingo vs Lesser Flamingo Information. The lesser flamingo is highly nomadic and partially migratory. Wildscreen's Arkive project was launched in 2003 and grew to become the world's biggest encyclopaedia of life on Earth. As its name suggests, the Lesser Flamingo is the smallest member of the flamingo family, the female being less than half the weight of the male Greater Flamingo. Get Greater Flamingo vs Lesser Flamingo information in detail. Lesser Flamingo has Mound type of nest which is build by Both. Every bird species has unique features. Close-up of flamingo head. Fun Facts for Kids. James's Flamingo - Photo: Curioso/Shutterstock. Habitat: Inhabits tropical alkaline and saline lakes, and occasionally coastal lagoons. The smallest of all flamingos are the Lesser flamingo. Lesser Flamingo Distribution and Habitat Lesser flamingos are found on large, shallow wetlands and especially saltpans. Greater Flamingo vs Lesser Flamingo both are quite different from each other and hence can be compared based on their characteristics like their behavior, habitat, breeding pattern etc. Habitat The species breeds on large undisturbed alkaline and saline lakes, salt pans or coastal lagoons, usually far out from the shore, after seasonal rains have provided the flooding necessary to isolate remote breeding sites from terrestrial predators and the soft muddy material for nest building (Brown and Root 1971, del Hoyo et al. The alkaline or saline lakes contain high levels of sodium and potassium salts as well as the presence of calcium and magnesium ions. When it died on January 30th, 2014, it was at least 83 years old. Flamingos are one of the world’s most iconic avian species, and raising awareness of these unique birds is essential. 1982, Williams and Velásquez 1997b). Habitat. They also have long, lean, curved necks and black-tipped bills with a distinctive downward bend. Flamingo Moves. Lesser flamingos plumage is an evenly colored deep pink. Inland salt lakes, as well as coastal lagoons. Habitat Lesser Flamingos are found in the salty lakes and lagoons of southern Africa. Nest turrets of varying height are constructed on flooded Lesser Flamingo Species Information. Each species account is written by leading ornithologists and provides detailed information on bird distribution, migration, habitat, diet, sounds, behavior, breeding, current population status, and … The primary threat to the lesser flamingo is habitat destruction due to pollution in the water and encroachment. Water pollution, like that caused by pesticides or heavy metals, puts these habitats at risk. Lesser Flamingos are colonial nesters, with colonies numbering tens of thousands (Simmons 2005i). The Greater Flamingo is an easily identifiable, colourful wading bird and is often found flocking together with the Lesser Flamingo in the great salt lakes across Africa. The lesser flamingo is the smallest bird, with a height of 2.6 to 3 feet and weight of 2.6 to 6 pounds. Lesser flamingo behavior and facts. The greater flamingo beaks are light pink with a black tip. Lesser Flamingo Habitat. When a flamingo spots potential dinner—favorite foods include shrimp, snails, and plantlike water organisms called algae—it plunges its head into the water, twists it upside down, and scoops the fish using its upper beak like a shovel. The Lesser Flamingo has such a dense filter that it can sift out single-celled plants less than two-hundredths of an inch in diameter. Flamingos often stand on one leg to preserve body heat , tucking the other leg into their plumage so it … Hunger and poisons weaken the bird and make it sensitive to pathogenic germs. While it is still a highly migratory animal, the Lesser flamingo does not cover the huge amount of ground that other species of flamingos may, and while most flamingos travel during the day, the Lesser species migrates almost exclusively at night time. Man, with his urban energy, destroys the habitat of this flagship species. The bill is dark red with a black tip. With the help of over 7,000 of the world’s best wildlife filmmakers and photographers, conservationists and scientists, Arkive.org featured multi-media fact-files for more than 16,000 endangered species. The species can weigh from 1.2 to 2.7 kg (2.6 to 6.0 lb). So, many consider them too noisy, but one reason to that is as they live in colonies, sometimes it can be just too many in one place. danieljamestowle / Getty Images Habitat and Distribution Lesser Flamingo Facts. Lesser Flamingo Fact: They are the smallest of the flamingo family but is believed to be the most numerous. Use our free mobile apps to identify images and record your counts and observations. Greater flamingos live in Africa, Europe, and Asia, while lesser flamingos live only in Africa. Diet of the Flamingo. Lesser flamingos get their pink color from pigments in an algae called spirulina, which is … There are few amazing facts you might want to know about them. Greater flamingos produce a loud goose-like honking call, 'ka-haunk'. There are only three breeding sites where flamingos gather in Africa. The wingspan of flamingos ranges from 37 inches (95 cm) to 59 inches (150 cm). The name “flamingo” was originally derived from the Portuguese language meaning “red goose,” a … Contact. Lesser Flamingo Feeding and Resting Habitat, Rift Valley Lakes, Kenya. Flamingos are very sociable. Some species, like the puna, Andean, and lesser flamingos, use filter feeding to eat algae and plankton. Lesser flamingo is the commonest, smallest and brightest of all the flamingos. If you take your time to watch, flamingos perform several funny moves. The clearest difference between other flamingos is the more extensive black on the bill. Habitat. Generally, lesser flamingos live in habitats that have few food options for other animals, thus have few natural predators. Although the Greater flamingo is the most widespread species, the most numerous is the Lesser flamingo (Phoenicopterus minor). The lesser flamingos, however, have a deeper pink colour on their feathers, while their beaks are a deep red with a black tip. Learn about lesser flamingo habitat, diet, and breeding, and the threats facing these beautiful birds. Lesser Flamingo Conservation Interventions The 2006 intervention at Kamfers Dam was a very important win for the conservation of this species. The legs are red and a hind toe called a hallux is present. Photograph by Flickr user Quinn Dombrowski. Some Aquatic Birds can fly while others can't. These famous […] Credit: NASA ISS. The 'Lesser Flamingos' (Phoenicopterus minor) are smaller-sized species, weighing up to 2.6 to 6.0 pounds, with a height range from 31 to 35 inches. Diet Lesser Flamingos feed almost entirely on blue green algae but they will also eat small insects and crustaceans. They are non-migratory and they live in large colonies that can contain over 1 million birds. The Lesser Flamingo eats upside down and has a lower jaw that holds air and allows the jaw to float. Mobile apps Our partners. The Lesser flamingo also is separated from its cousin species, by its habits of migration. Lesser flamingo habitats are unique, in that they are either alkaline or salty and contain microorganisms found nowhere else. The shortest species is the lesser flamingo, which stands 2.6 feet (80 cm) and weighs 5.5 lbs. The Lesser Flamingo is pale to dark pink and has a characteristic deep-keeled dark red bill, with the lower half appearing black at a distance. They are found throughout Africa and particularly in the 'Great Rift Valley'. They also eat small crayfish and algae. The Lesser Flamingo diet is mostly based on a special kind of micro-organism called cyanobacteria. An adult flamingo's legs can be 30-50 inches long, which is longer than its entire body. They are the smallest of the six flamingo species, and the pinkest of the two old world species. Lesser Flamingos. Flamingos can often be seen standing on one leg, thought to be for the purpose of keeping the tucked-up leg warm within their feathers. Different species of flamingos have different feeding behaviors. However, unlike his immortal likeness, the Lesser Flamingo is threatened. Not only that, but they are there is the most of it, estimation is that 5 million of them resides n the world. Lesser flamingos inhabit many large alkaline or saline lakes, salt pans and estuaries throughout Africa. (2.5 kg). Lesser Flamingos are filter-feeding wading birds native to Africa. The Lesser Flamingo can be found in Africa and North West India. The flamingo is a very tall bird, with the Greater Flamingo growing up to 47-59 inches, with a weight of up to 3.5kg. Sometimes they live in groups of more than 10,000 birds. [5] The standing height is around 80 to 90 cm (31 to 35 in). Diet. One female fox is the boss. For the Lesser Flamingo, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find suitable food and an undisturbed breeding ground. Habitat: The Little Rann Of Kutch is a unique habitat comprising saline desert plains, rocky and thorn scrub, arid … Flamingos are famous for their bright pink feathers, stilt-like legs, and S-shaped neck. FUN FACT! Lesser Flamingo - Phoeniconaias minor. Groups of more than one million lesser flamingos have been sighted at Lake Natron in Tanzania (East Africa). Physical Characteristics. The Lesser Flamingo occurs on open, eutrophic, shallow saline and alkaline wetlands, such as salt pans and coastal lagoons and estuaries (Brown et al. Some little-known birds from the Late Cretaceous period onwards are sometimes considered to be the ancestors of the flamingo. The lesser flamingo is the smallest flamingo and can reach three feet tall and typically weighs 3-6 pounds. Namibia - Walvisbaai / Swakopmund (NA) 2014-09-11 Szabolcs Nagy Mobile apps. 6. The Lesser Flamingo, also known as Phoeniconaias minor, is a flamingo species commonly seen in sub-Saharan Africa, small parts of western Africa, and northwestern India. Lesser Flamingo Threats Listed as near threatened.