Aplomado Falcon - Range, ecology and status

The Aplomado Falcon's habitat is dry grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found
s, savanna
Savanna
A savanna, or savannah, is a tropical, subtropical or temperate woodland ecosystem characterized by the trees being sufficiently small
or widely spaced so that the Canopy does not close
hs, and marsh
Marsh
In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland which is subject to frequent or continuous flood .
Typically the water is shallow and features Poaceaees, Juncaceaees, Phragmites, typhas, Cyperaless, and other herbaceous plants
es. It ranges from northern Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federalism constitutionalism republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of Mexico
and Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and islands of Trinidad and Tobago which make up the country of Trinidad and Tobago....
locally to southern South America
South America
South America is the southern continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly
in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere....
, but has been extirpated
Local extinction
Local extinction is where a species ceases to exist in the chosen area of study, but still exists elsewhere.
This phenomenon is also known as extirpation....
from many places in its range, including all of northern and central Mexico except for a small area of Chihuahua. Globally, however, it is so widespread that it is assessed as Species of Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern is an
World Conservation Union category assigned to extant species or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category....
by the IUCN.
It feeds on large invertebrate
Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal lacking a vertebral column.
The group includes 98% of all animal species ? all animals except those in the Chordate subphylum vertebrate ....
s and small vertebrate
Vertebrate
Vertebrates are members of the subphylum Vertebrata, chordates with Vertebras or Vertebral columns. The grouping sometimes includes the hagfish
which have no vertebrae, but are genetically quite closely related to lampreys
which do have vertebrae....
s, with small birds making up the overwhelming bulk of its prey. Mixed-species feeding flock
Mixed-species feeding flock
A mixed-species feeding flock, mixed-species foraging flock or mixed hunting party is a Flock of birds of different species, often of different feeding guilds
that join each other to search for food....
s in open cerrado
Cerrado
The cerrado is a vast tropical savanna ecoregion of Brazil.
The cerrado is characterised by an enormous range of plant and animal biodiversity....
and grassland will go on frenzied alert upon spotting this species; small birds fear it more than most other predators.
It is often seen soaring at twilight hunting insect
Insect
Insects are the biggest class of arthropods and the only ones with wings.
They are the most diverse group of animals on the planet. They are most diverse at the equator and their diversity declines toward the poles....
s and eating them on the wing. It also hunts at fields being burned, at which many birds of this species may gather; cooperation between individual Aplomado Falcons – usually members of a pair – has also been recorded. In Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is a country in South America.
It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, occupying nearly half of South America, the List of countries by population country, and the fourth most populous democracy in the world
, Aplomado Falcons have been observed following Maned Wolves
Maned Wolf
The Maned Wolf is the largest canidae of South America, resembling a big fox with reddish fur.This mammal is found in
open and semi-open habitats, especially grasslands with scattered
bushes and trees, in south-eastern Brazil , Paraguay, northern Argentina, Bolivia east and north of the Andes, and far south-eastern Peru
(Chrysocyon brachyurus) and chasing birds that the wolves flush. Prey items typically weigh one-fifth to one-half of the falcons' own weight, but females of this species
(which due to their size can tackle larger prey) have been recorded eating birds larger than themselves, such as a Cattle Egret
Cattle Egret
The Cattle Egret is a cosmopolitan distribution species of heron found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones.
It is the only member of the monotype genus Bubulcus, although some authorities regard its two subspecies as full species....
(Bulbucus ibis) or a Plain Chachalaca
Plain Chachalaca
The Plain Chachalaca, Ortalis vetula is a large bird in the Cracidae family.
It breeds in tropical and subtropical environments from the chaparral thickets in the Rio Grande Valley in southernmost Texas, United States to northernmost Costa Rica....
(Ortalis vetula), on rare occasions.
The nest is a platform built of sticks at any height in a bush or tree. Two or three eggs are laid.
Until the 1950s it was found in the extreme southwestern United States
United States
The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district.
The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories
lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
, and reintroduction efforts are under way in Western and Southern Texas
Texas
Texas is a U.S. state located in the South Central United States, nicknamed the Lone Star State. Texas is the second largest U.S. state in both area and population
spanning , and with a growing population of 24.3 million residents....
. It began to reoccupy its former range in West Texas and southern New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a U. S. State located in the Southwestern United States of the United States. Inhabited by Native Americans in the United States populations for many centuries, it has also has been part of the Spanish Empire viceroyalty of
New Spain, part of Mexico, and a U.S....
in the 1990s. Documentary evidence for these naturally occurring birds was obtained in New Mexico in 1991, and sightings built steadily through that decade and the next, leading to successful fledging
Fledge
Fledge is the stage in a young bird's life
when the feathers and wing muscles are sufficiently developed for flight.
It also describes the act of raising chicks to a fully grown state by the chick's parents....
of three young in 2002. Sightings and nesting activity continue to the present.
The expansion of the reintroduction program to that area has met with criticism, because technically, all Aplomado Falcons in
New Mexico are classified as part of the "experimental" (reintroduction) population.
As such, while they are still legally protected from hunting, they are not protected by Endangered Species Act
Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 or ESA is the most wide-ranging of the dozens of United States environmental laws passed in the 1970s....
requirements to preserve habitat and the like. It is believed that mainly habitat destruction
Habitat destruction
Habitat destruction is the process in which natural habitat
is rendered functionally unable to support the species originally present. In this process, plants and animals which previously used the site are displaced or destroyed, reducing biodiversity
caused the species' (near-)disappearance from the US and hinders reestablishment of a wild breeding population.
A coalition of environmental groups is attempting to have
full protection restored so as not to jeopardize the success of the expanding wild population and the reintroduction efforts.

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Aplomado Falcon wallpaper

Aplomado Falcon wallpaper

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Aplomado Falcon Description

The Aplomado Falcon is very slender, long-winged, and long-tailed, the size of a small Peregrine Falcon
at 12–16 in (30–40 cm) long and with an average wingspan of about 36 in (90 cm), but only half the weight, at about 7.3–10.8 oz (208–305 g) in males and 9.6–16 oz (271–460 g) in females
. In adult birds, the upperparts are dark blue-grey, as is much of the head, with the usual falcon "moustache" contrasting sharply with the white throat and eyestripe.
The upper breast continues the white of the throat; there are black patches on each side of the lower breast that meet in the middle; the belly and thighs, below the black patches, are light cinnamon.
The tail is black with narrow white or grey bars and a white tip.
The cere, eye-ring, and feet are yellow or yellow-orange.
Except that females are bigger than males, the sexes are similar. Juvenile birds are very similar to adults, but their upperparts and belly band are blackish brown, the chest is streaked with black, the white on the head and breast is buffy, and the cinnamon on the underparts is paler, as are the feet.
This species may be confused with the Bat Falcon and the Orange-breasted Falcon , which have similar white-black-rust patterns below, but those species are built more like Peregrine Falcons and have solidly blackish heads and darker rufous bellies.
These two species are generally considered to belong to the same lineage as the Aplomado Falcon.
Two other Falco species of the Americas, Merlin and American Kestrel , seem to be closer to the Aplomado group than most other falcons, but the relationships of all these lineages are fairly enigmatic. All that can be said
with some certainty is that they diverged as part of an apparently largely western Holarctic radiation in the Late Miocene, probably around 8–5 million years ago.

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Aplomado Falcon

The Aplomado Falcon, Falco femoralis, is a medium-sized falcon of the Americas.
The species' largest contiguous range is in South America
but not in the deep interior Amazon Basin.
It was long known as Falco fusco-coerulescens or Falco fuscocaerulescens
but these names are now believed to refer to the Bat Falcon (F. rufigularis)
. Its resemblance in shape to the hobbies accounts for its old name Orange-chested Hobby. Aplomado is an unusual Spanish word for "lead-colored", referring to the blue-grey areas of the plumage – an approximate English translation would be "leaden falcon".
Spanish names for the species include halcón aplomado and halcón fajado (roughly "banded falcon" in reference to the characteristic pattern); in Brazil it is known as falcão-de-coleira.
The Aplomado Falcon, Falco femoralis, is a medium-sized falcon of the Americas.
The species' largest contiguous range is in South America
South America
South America is the southern continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere....
but not in the deep interior Amazon Basin
Amazon Basin
The Amazon Basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries. The basin is located mainly in Brazil, but also stretches into Peru and several other countries....
It was long known as Falco fusco-coerulescens or Falco fuscocaerulescens, but these names are now believed to refer to the Bat Falcon
Bat Falcon
The Bat Falcon is a falcon that is a resident breeder
in tropical Mexico, central America and South America and Trinidad.
It was long known as Falco albigularis; the name Falco fusco-coerulescens or Falco fuscocaerulescens, long used for the Aplomado Falcon, are now believed to refer to the present species
(F. rufigularis). Its resemblance in shape to the hobbies
Hobby (bird)
A hobby is a fairly small, very swift falcon with long, narrow wings.
There are four birds called hobby, and some
others which, although termed falcon, are very similar
accounts for its old name Orange-chested Hobby.

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Falcons Species

Falcon Species
Common Kestrel
New Zealand Falcon, a relative of the hobbies
Saker Falcon, a typical hierofalcon
Peregrine Falcon
The sequence follows the taxonomic order
of White et al. (1996), except for adjustments in the kestrel sequence.
- Madagascar Kestrel, Falco newtoni
-Seychelles Kestrel, Falco araea
-Mauritius Kestrel, Falco punctatus
-Réunion Kestrel, Falco duboisi - extinct (c.1700)
- Spotted Kestrel, Falco moluccensis
-Nankeen Kestrel or Australian Kestrel, Falco cenchroides
-Common Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
- Rock Kestrel, Falco (tinnunculus) rupicolus
-Greater Kestrel, Falco rupicoloides
-Fox Kestrel, Falco alopex
- Lesser Kestrel, Falco naumanni
-Grey Kestrel, Falco ardosiaceus
-Dickinson's Kestrel, Falco dickinsoni
-Banded Kestrel, Falco zoniventris
- Red-necked Falcon, Falco chicquera
- African Red-necked Falcon, Falco (chicquera) ruficollis
-Red-footed Falcon, Falco vespertinus
-Amur Falcon, Falco amurensis
-Eleonora's Falcon, Falco eleonorae
- Sooty Falcon, Falco concolor
-American Kestrel or "Sparrow Hawk", Falco sparverius
-Aplomado Falcon, Falco femoralis
- (American) Merlin or "Pigeon Hawk", Falco columbarius
- Eurasian Merlin, Falco (columbarius) aesalon
-Bat Falcon, Falco rufigularis
-Orange-breasted Falcon, Falco deiroleucus
-Eurasian Hobby, Falco subbuteo
-African Hobby, Falco cuvierii
-Oriental Hobby, Falco severus
-Australian Hobby or Little Falcon, Falco longipennis
- New Zealand Falcon, Falco novaeseelandiae
-Brown Falcon, Falco berigora
-Grey Falcon, Falco hypoleucos
-Black Falcon, Falco subniger
- Lanner Falcon, Falco biarmicus
- Laggar Falcon, Falco jugger
- Saker Falcon, Falco cherrug
- Altai Falcon, Falco altaicus (status unclear)
-Gyrfalcon, Falco rusticolus
* Prairie Falcon, Falco mexicanus
* Peregrine Falcon or "Duck Hawk", Falco peregrinus
- Peale's Falcon, Falco peregrinus pealei
- Pallid Falcon, Falco peregrinus cassini var. kreyenborgi
- Barbary Falcon, Falco (peregrinus) pelegrinoides
-Taita Falcon, Falco fasciinucha

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falcon - facts

AT RIGHTaround forty days, young Peregrines begin flying. Peregrine parents encourage flight by "baiting" the young with food, which is no longer neatly prepared and fed directly to the young. It is a lot of fun to watch young Peregrines chasing each other and everything else!
As in many other species, Peregrine young learn in part through "playing" - however, this play can be deadly serious when hunting is involved.
Peregrines hunt and eat other birds and are famed
for their speed (stooping, or diving, Peregrines
have been clocked at speeds of up to 220mph) and aerial prowess.
Here are some bird
fact sheets from one of my OTHER favorite web sites, the Animal Diversity Web

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falcon Encyclopedia

AT ONE time, the type of falcon an Englishman was allowed to own marked his rank.
A king, the gyrfalcon; an earl, the peregrine; a yeoman, the goshawk; a priest, the sparrowhawk; and a servant the kestrel. Notable falconers and enthusiasts include Frederick the Second (who wrote what some consider the first book of ornithology), William Shakespeare, Marco Polo, and Ghengis Khan.

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Horus in egypt history

In Egyptian mythology, the hawk, or falcon, god.
Horus is a Latin form of a Greek word for the Egyptian name Heru, or Hor.
Originally, Horus was a local god who was worshiped along
the delta region of the Nile. Eventually, his cult spread
throughout Egypt and was carried into Roman times, when he was worshiped along with his mother, Isis.
Gold Eye
The falcon, or hawk, one of the first animals worshiped in Egypt
was said to be the personification of the god Horus, who made the sky.
In predynastic times there arose several hawk deities, among the most important being the falcon god at Hierakonpolis
in Upper Egypt, where Horus took on the form of a solar disk with wings.
When the kings of the south moved into Lower Egypt, uniting the two lands, Horus became known as the Uniter of the South and North, or Upper and Lower Egypt.
He was sometimes said to be the son of the cow goddess Hathor, whose name literally means "house of Horus." Each evening he would fly into the goddess's mouth, and each morning he would emerge reborn.
In the most famous myth associated with him, however, Horus is the son of the god Osiris and the goddess Isis, and he avenges his father's murder by defeating the demonic god Set in a series of battles.
Thus Osiris is identified with the dead king and Horus with the living king. Sometimes the living king was said to embody within himself both Horus, the spirit of light, and Set, the spirit of darkness, reflecting
the eternal strife that is always present in the universe. In his role as defeater of Set,
Horus is variously portrayed as a mounted warrior with the head of a falcon and as a falcon-headed man with a large pointed spear
driven into some foe. In one version of the myth, Horus had his left eye, which signified the moon, wounded in his battle with Set, thus giving rise to one explanation for the moon's various phases.
The eye was healed by the god Thoth, and the restored eye, known as the udjat, became a powerful amulet.
Various "Horus gods" also appear in Egyptian mythology. Originally, many of them were separate deities, but eventually
they were all blended into one and were considered various aspects of the same god. Among them are Harpokrates, Harsiesis (Horus the son of Isis), Harmachis (Horus who is on the horizon), Haroeris (Horus the elder), Horus-Behdety
(Horus of Behdet), Horus Khenty en Maathyu (Horus at the head of those who see not?
also called blind Horus), Horus Khenty Khat (Horus at the head of the belly?), and Horus Netcher Nedjeitef (Horus the god, he who avenges his father).

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Falcon - INSIDE THE egg

INSIDE THE egg, the Peregrine chick has its head tucked under its wing.
A large muscle called the hatching muscle runs from the middle of the neck to the top of the head. About 30 days after incubation has started, this muscle contracts.
The chick's head snaps up and the egg tooth, a hard pointed knob on top of the beak, cracks the inside of the eggshell.
This creates a "pip" - a small hole with tiny cracks spreading out across the shell. One to two days after pipping, the chick begins moving around in the shell.
The egg tooth scrapes against the eggshell, cutting a ring through it. 33 days after the egg is laid, the chick breaks out.

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Falcon in history

FALCONRY IS an ancient sport.
It was practiced in China before the year 2000 BC: falconry is also the subject of some of the oldest Egyptian wall paintings.
English playwrite William Shakespeare was a falconry fan who
introduced falconry terms into popular speech: the word "Hag" or "Haggard" is the term for a mature wild hawk or falcon.
Horus, an Egyptian god, was a Peregrine falcon: the "Eye of Horus" is clearly a
stylized Peregrine falcon's eye.

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PEREGRINE FALCONS

PEREGRINE FALCONS are about the size and weight of a crow - females are larger and more powerful than males.
Adults have slate dark blue-gray wings and backs barred
with black, pale undersides, white faces with a black stripe on each cheek, and large, dark eyes.
Their wings are long and pointed - Peregrines look, in a nutshell, fast.
PEREGRINE FALCONS have been called nature's finest flying machine.
They are nature's fastest fliers: Peregrines have been clocked diving, or stooping, at speeds of up to 220 miles per hour! Peregrine falcons feed primarily on birds they take in the air: their prey includes ducks, pheasants, and pigeons.
Some of the power plants that RRP works with have seen
the resident pigeon population disappear after Peregrines began nesting on site.

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Falco Peregrinus

THE PEREGRINE falcon's scientific name is Falco Peregrinus, which means Falcon Wanderer. Three subspecies are recognized in North America: F.P. Pealei from the coastal islands off Alaska; F.P. Tundrius, which nests above the tree line in the Arctic; and F.P. Anatum, which once ranged over North America from coast to coast. In the 1960s, scientists discovered that DDT was interfering in the egg shell formation of meat and fish eating birds. Healthy birds were laying eggs so thin they were crushed by the weight of the incubating adult. By 1965, no Peregrine falcons were fledged in the eastern or Central United States. By 1968, the Peregrine population was completely eradicated east of the Mississippi River. In 1972, use of DDT was severely restricted in the United States and worldwide.

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Falcon - EYASES ARE

EYASES ARE helpless. One parent (often the female but sometimes the male) stays
with the chicks while the other finds food for the brood.
Eyases eat an incredible amount of food - but then, they double
their weight in only six days and at three weeks will be ten times birth size.
Newly hatched chicks are wet and covered with white down.
But by three weeks of age, brownish juvenile feathers can be seen poking through the white fuzz. By five or six weeks of age, the white fuzz has been completely replaced by brown feathers.
The eyases can be observed jumping around and testing their wings, getting ready to fly. Above: This BirdCam picture of Smoke and Prescott was taken when the young falcons were about 20 days of age.

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BABY FALCONS

BABY FALCONS are called eyasses.
They are covered by white down when they are born
which is replaced by feathers in three to five weeks.
Although they have a high mortality rate, Peregrines have been known
to live as long as 15 years. They usually begin breeding at about two years old.
These three young are nesting high atop a power plant stack: power
plants have the best production rates in the Midwest.

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Falcon Description

Adult falcons have thin tapered wings, which enable them to fly at high speed and to change direction rapidly.
Fledgling falcons, in their first year of flying, have longer flight feathers
which makes their configuration more like that of a general-purpose bird such
as a broadwing. This is to make it easier for them to
fly while learning the exceptional skills required to be effective hunters as adults.
Peregrine Falcons have been recorded diving at speeds of 200 miles per hour (322 km/hr), making them the fastest-moving creatures on Earth.
Other falcons include the Gyrfalcon, Lanner Falcon, and the Merlin. Some small falcons with long narrow wings are called hobbies, and some which hover
while hunting are called kestrels.
The falcons are part of the family Falconidae, which also includes the caracaras, Laughing Falcon, forest falcons, and falconets.
The traditional term for a male falcon is tercel (British spelling) or tiercel (American spelling), from Latin tertius = third because of the belief that only one in three eggs hatched a male bird.[1] [2] Some sources give the etymology
as deriving from the fact that a male falcon is
approximately one third smaller than the female (Old French tiercelet).
A falcon chick, especially one reared for falconry, that is still in its downy stage is known as an eyas[3][4] (sometimes spelt eyass). The word arose by mistaken division
of Old French un niais, from Latin presumed *nidiscus ("nestling", from nidus = nest). The technique of hunting with trained captive birds of prey is known as falconry.
As is the case with many birds of prey, falcons are renowned for their exceptional powers of vision; one species has been found to have
a visual acuity of 2.6 times that of a normal human.
In February 2005, the Canadian ornithologist Louis Lefebvre announced
a method of measuring avian intelligence in terms of
their innovation in feeding habits.
The falcon and corvids scored highest on this scale.

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Falcon

A falcon is any species of raptor in the genus Falco.
The word comes from their Latin name falco, related to Latin falx ("sickle")
because of the shape of these birds' wings.

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Flamingo Behavior

A. Social structure.
1. Flamingos are very social birds.
Breeding colonies of a few individual flamingos are rare
while colonies of tens of thousands of birds are common.
2. In zoological parks, flock size ranges from 2 to 340 birds with an average of 71 birds.
B. Social behavior.
1. Flamingos devote considerable time to collective displays before, during, and after breeding.
2. Several hundred to several thousand flamingos are all involved
simultaneously with ritualized postures
and movements to synchronize breeding.
3. Sometimes only one display is performed, but more often
a predictable sequence of displays are carried out: head-flag, wing-salute, and twist-preen.
a. Head-flag involves stretching the neck and head up as high as
possible with the bill pointing upwards, and then rhythmically turning
the head from one side to the other.
b. Wing-salute is performed by spreading the wings for a few seconds, showing their strikingly contrasted colors, while the tail is cocked and neck outstretched.
c. Twist-preen entail the bird twisting its neck
back and appearing to preen quickly, with its bill behind a partly open wing.
C. Individual behavior.
1. Flamingos spend most of the day feeding, preening (using the bill to distribute oil from a gland at the base of their tail to their feathers for waterproofing), resting, and bathing.
2. Breeding birds feed day or night. Non-breeding birds feed at night and spend the day sleeping or involved in comfort activities, such as bathing.
3. Flamingos spend about 15% to 30% of their time during the day preening.
This is a large percentage compared to waterfowl,
which preen only about 10% of the time.
Flamingos preen with their bills.
An oil gland near the base of the tail secretes oil
that the flamingo distributes throughout its feathers.
4. Flamingos swim readily and bathe in shallow fresh water submerging the whole body.
D. Interaction with other species.
Two or more species of flamingos can coexist in the same area at the same time.

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Africa - Flamingos

Within our tour group, everyone had a different "favorite African moment."
For me, the #1 Africa moment wasn't hearing the roar of the lion, or the thundering herds of wildebeest, or even the elusive leopard. It was the spectacular sight of two million (or so) pink flamingos at Kenya's Lake Nakuru.
The raucous army (or pat, as a flock of flamingos is called) of graceful pink
and white birds, stretching for miles as far as the eye could see, was an absolutely spectacular sight.
This was the African moment that made me smile the most
and the one that I found hardest to leave behind.
Marching back and forth amidst the crowd were clumps of courting flamingos (above and below) performing an elaborate, synchronized courtship dance.
According to our guide, the groups are usually composed of one male and 2-10 females.
They were like a drill team, performing in perfect synchrony.
When one animal turned left, they all turned left. When one stopped, they all stopped.
It was a hilarious performance to watch.
If I had to choose to see only one thing in Africa
the pink flamingos of Lake Nakuru would be it.

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Puna Flamingo

Latin Name Phoenicoparrus jamesi
Location South America
Colour Pinkish/White
Height Up to 1 m (3.25 ft)
Wingspan Approx. 1 m (3.25 ft)
Weight Up to 2 Kgs (4.5 lbs)
Life Expectancy Up to 40 Yrs
Puna Flamingos are one of three species of South American flamingo, the other two being the Andean Flamingo and the Chilean Flamingo.
They stand at heights up to 1 m (3.25 ft), they have a wingspan of approximately 1 m (3.25 ft) and they weigh up to 2 kgs (4.5 lbs).
They have pinkish white plumage with dark pink streaks on their back and at the base of their neck. As young birds they are grey in colour
but their plumage slowly turns pink as they mature.
They have a long neck and long, thin, dark red legs. Their downward curving beak is yellow in colour with a black tip.
Puna Flamingos have a loud honking call that is similar to that of a goose and they are unmistakable in flight with their long,
thin neck outstretched in front and their long legs outstretched behind them.
Habitat
Puna Flamingos inhabit the salt lakes and lagoons of the Andes mountains.
They can be found together with
Andean Flamingos and Chilean Flamingos usually at altitudes of over 3,000 m (9,900 ft). During the winter they migrate
to lower altitudes but some remain at lakes where there are hot springs.
Diet
Puna Flamingos feed on diatoms such as algae.
They feed during the day in shallow water, walking slowly forwards
with their bill dipped just below the surface.
They are filter feeders and they use their specially adapted
beak and tongue to filter food from the water.
Breeding
Puna Flamingos nest in colonies containing thousands of pairs.
They produce one chalky white egg that is laid on a mud mound in shallow water. Both parents incubate the egg which takes 27 - 31 days to hatch.
They will defend their nest during the breeding season, otherwise they are non-territorial.
After the chick first hatches they
are fed a substance called "crop milk" which comes from the parents' upper digestive tract. Either parent can feed the chick this way and other
flamingos can act as foster feeders. When the chicks are old enough to walk they gather together in creches that are watched over by a few adult birds.
By the time young flamingos reach 2 - 3 years of age they will have gained their full adult plumage.
Predators
Egg collection and hunting were major threats to Puna Flamingos up until 1986.
Guards are now employed to protect these flamingos at one of their major breeding sites.
Interesting Facts
The Puna Flamingo is also known as:
James's Flamingo
It was named after Harry Berkeley James.
It derives its common name from its habitat - "puna" is the
local word for high Andean plateau.
The Puna Flamingo is closely related to the Andean Flamingo.
Flamingo comes from the latin word for flame.
The flamingo's characteristic pink colouring
is caused by the beta carotene in their diet.

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flamingo pictures

flamingo pictures

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Lesser Flamingo

Latin Name Phoenicopterus minor
Location Africa
Colour Pinkish/White
Height Up to 1 m (3.25 ft)
Wingspan Approx. 1 m (3.25 ft)
Weight Up to 2 Kgs (4.5 lbs)
Life Expectancy Up to 40 Yrs
Main Characteristics
The Lesser Flamingo is the smallest but most numerous species of flamingo.
They grow up to 1 m (3.25 ft) in height
they have a wingspan of approximately 1 m (3.25 ft) and they weigh up to 2 kgs (4.5 lbs).
They are light to dark pink in colour
but immature birds are grey before they gain their full adult plumage.
They have a long neck and long pink legs with relatively small webbed feet.
Unlike the Andean Flamingo and Puna Flamingo
they have a hind toe known as a "hallux".
Their large bill is downward curving and it is dark red in colour with a black tip.
They have narrow wings with their primary
and secondary flight feathers being black in colour and their wing coverts being red.
Lesser Flamingos are unmistakable in flight with their long, thin neck outstretched in front and their long legs outstretched behind them.
Flocks fly in "V" shaped formations and they mainly move at night
although they sometimes move between lakes during the day.
They are gregarious birds and as well as calling they also flash the
black feathers on their wings as a method of communication.
They have no sense of smell and a poor sense of taste.
Habitat
Lesser Flamingos are found in the salty lakes and lagoons of southern Africa.
They are non-migratory and they
live in large colonies that can contain over 1 million birds.
Diet
Lesser Flamingos feed almost entirely on blue green algae but they will also eat small insects and crustaceans.
They are filter feeders and they gather food by holding their beak upside down in the water. They then use their specially adapted beak and tongue to filter food from the water.
Breeding
Lesser Flamingos produce one chalky white egg that is laid on
a mud mound in shallow water. Both parents incubate the egg which takes 27 - 31 days to hatch.
They will defend their nest during the breeding season, otherwise they are non-territorial.
After the chick first hatches they are fed a substance called "crop milk" which comes from the parents' upper digestive tract.
Either parent can feed the chick this way and other flamingos can act as foster feeders.
When the chicks are old enough to walk
they gather together in creches that are watched over by a few adult birds. By the time young flamingos reach 2 - 3 years of age they will have gained their full adult plumage.
Predators
Predators of adult Lesser Flamingos include lions, leopards, cheetahs, jackals and pythons. Eggs and chicks are preyed upon by
marabou storks, lappet faced vultures, white headed vultures and egyptian vultures.
Interesting Facts
Some colonies of Lesser Flamingos contain
over 1 million birds - these are among the largest bird aggregations in the world.
The flamingo's characteristic pink colouring is caused by the beta carotene in their diet.
Flamingo comes from the latin word for flame.

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Greater Flamingo

Latin Name Phoenicopterus roseus
Location C & S America, Caribbean, SW Europe, Asia & Africa
Colour Pinkish/White
Height 1.5 m (5 ft)
Wingspan 1.4 - 1.7 m (4.5 - 5.5 ft)
Weight Up to 4 Kgs (8.75 lbs)
Life Expectancy Up to 40 Yrs
Main Characteristics
Greater Flamingos are the largest member of the
flamingo family and they are the most widespread.
They stand at 1.5 m (5 ft) tall, they have a wingspan between 1.4 and 1.7 m (4.5 - 5.5 ft) and they weigh up to 4 Kgs (8.75 lbs).
They are pinkish white in colour but immature
birds are grey before they get their full adult plumage.
They have long, pink legs with relatively small webbed feet, and a very long neck.
Their large bill is downward curving and
it is pink in colour with a black tip.
They have narrow wings with their primary
and secondary flight feathers being black in colour and their wing coverts being red.
Greater Flamingos are unmistakable in flight with their long
thin neck outstretched in front and their long legs outstretched behind them.
Flocks form either long, trailing lines or irregular shapes whilst in flight.
Greater Flamingos have a loud, deep honking call that is similar to that of a goose.
They call loudly during courtship but they have a quieter call while they are feeding.
Habitat
Greater Flamingos are found in both
freshwater and saltwater habitats of Central and South America
the Caribbean, south west Europe, Asia and Africa.
They live on lakes, estuaries and lagoons and Greater Flamingos that live outside the tropics often migrate to warmer climates for the winter months.
They live in colonies but these range vastly in size.
They can consist of thousands of birds, but in some areas such
as the Galapagos Islands, they may only consist of a few dozen birds.
Diet
Greater Flamingos feed upon insects, worms, vegetation and algae.
They mainly feed during the day and they sweep their bill upside
down through shallow water picking up food as they go.
They usually feed with their head fully immersed
in water and they can remain that way for up to 20 seconds.
They are filter feeders and their tongue pumps up and down, 5 - 6 times per second, pushing the water out of their beak.
Unlike smaller flamingos the Greater
Flamingo rarely takes food from the surface of the water and because of its size it is able to wade out into deeper water to feed.
Also they sometimes swim, upending like a duck to reach food.
Breeding
Greater Flamingos breed in colonies of up to 200,000
monogamous pairs and after courtship rituals of synchronized dancing, preening, neck stretching and honking they mate during April and May.
They produce one chalky white egg that is laid on a mud mound in shallow water. The nest of each pair is situated approximately 1.5 m (4.9 ft) from neighbouring nests so the chick remains safe from other breeding pairs.
Both parents incubate the egg which takes 27 - 31 days to hatch.
They will defend their nest during the breeding season, otherwise they are non-territorial.
After the chick first hatches they are fed a substance called "crop milk" which comes from the parents' upper digestive tract.
Either parent can feed the chick this way and other flamingos can act as foster feeders.
When the chicks are old enough to walk they
gather together in creches that are watched over by a few adult birds.
By the time young flamingos reach 2 - 3 years of
age they will have gained their full adult plumage.
Predators
Greater Flamingos have few natural predators
however their eggs and chicks are preyed upon
by other birds including the marabou stork.
Interesting Facts
Greater Flamingos are closely related to the Caribbean
Flamingo and the Chilean Flamingo.
Flamingo comes from the latin word for flame.
The flamingo's characteristic pink colouring
is caused by the beta carotene in their diet.

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Flamingo wallpaper

Flamingo wallpaper

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Caribbean Flamingo

Latin Name Phoenicopterus ruber
Location Caribbean, Yucatan Peninsula, Galapagos Islands
Colour Pink/Red/Orange
Height 1.2 - 1.4 m (3.9 - 4.6 ft)
Wingspan Approx. 1.5 m (4.9 ft)
Weight 2.2 - 2.8 Kgs (4.9 - 6.2 lb)
Life Expectancy Up to 40 Yrs (in captivity)
Main Characteristics
Caribbean Flamingos are the only flamingo to naturally inhabit North America.
They stand between 1.2 and 1.4 m (3.9 - 4.6 ft) in height, they have a wingspan of approximately 1.5 m (4.9 ft) and they weigh between 2.2 and 2.8 kgs (4.9 - 6.2 lbs).
They are deep pink/red/orange in colour and
they have the brightest plumage of all flamingo species.
As young birds they are grey in colour but their plumage slowly
turns pink as they mature.
They have long, pink legs with their knees being a slightly darker pink.
Their large bill is downward curving and it is pink in colour with a black tip.
They have narrow wings with their primary
and secondary flight feathers being black in colour and their wing coverts being red.
Caribbean Flamingos have a loud, deep honking call that is similar
to that of a goose. They call loudly during courtship
but they have a quieter call while they are feeding.
Habitat
Caribbean Flamingos are found in the lagoons, mudflats and lakes of the Caribbean, the Yucatan Peninsula and the Galapagos Islands.
They are highly social birds and they live in colonies
that can contain thousands of individuals.
Diet
Caribbean Flamingos feed upon insects, worms, vegetation and algae.
They mainly feed during the day and they sweep their
bill upside down through shallow water picking up food as they go.
They are filter feeders and their tongue
pumps up and down, 5 - 6 times per second, pushing the water out of their beak.
Breeding
Caribbean Flamingos breed in colonies that can contain thousands of individuals and after courtship rituals of synchronized dancing, preening, neck stretching
and honking they mate during April and May.
They produce one chalky white egg that is laid on a mud mound in shallow water.
The nest of each pair is situated approximately 1.5 m (4.9 ft) from neighbouring nests so the chick remains safe from other breeding pairs.
Both parents incubate the egg which takes 27 - 31 days to hatch.
They will defend their nest during the breeding season, otherwise they are non-territorial.
After the chick first hatches they are fed a substance called "crop milk" which comes from the parents' upper digestive tract. Either parent can feed
the chick this way and other flamingos can act as foster feeders.
When the chicks are old enough to walk they gather
together in creches that are watched over by a few adult birds.
By the time young flamingos reach 3 - 5 years of age
they will have reached sexual maturity and gained their full adult plumage.
Predators
The main predators of Caribbean Flamingos
are jaguars, raccoons, birds of prey, margay and humans .
Interesting Facts
Caribbean Flamingos are closely related to the Greater Flamingo and the Chilean Flamingo.
Caribbean Flamingos are also known as:
Rosy Flamingo
American Flamingo
Flamingo comes from the latin word for flame.
The global population of Caribbean
Flamingos is estimated to be between 850,000 and 880,000 individuals.
The flamingo's characteristic pink colouring
is caused by the beta carotene in their diet.

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Andean Flamingo

Latin Name Phoenicoparrus andinus
Location South America
Colour Pinkish/White
Height 1 - 1.4 m (3.25 - 4.60 ft)
Wingspan 1 - 1.6 m (3.25 - 5.25 ft)
Weight Up to 4 Kgs (8.8 lbs)
Life Expectancy Up to 40 Yrs
Main Characteristics
Andean flamingos reach heights between 1 and 1.4 m (3.25 - 4.60 ft)
they have a wingspan between 1 and 1.6 m (3.25 - 5.25 ft) and they weigh up to 4 kgs (8.8 lbs).
They are light pink in colour with their head, neck and upper breast being darker.
As young birds they are grey
in colour but their plumage slowly turns pink as they mature.
Their long, thin legs and feet are yellow in colour and their large, downward curving bill is yellow with an extensive black tip.
Andean Flamingos have a loud honking
call that is similar to that of a goose they also communicate
using a wing salute, stretching up their neck and flipping up their tail.
Habitat
Andean Flamingos are found in the lakes and lagoons of the Andes mountains.
They are highly gregarious birds and form flocks containing thousands of individuals.
Diet
Andean Flamingos are filter feeders and they mainly
feed upon diatoms and algae.
Breeding
Andean Flamingos breed in colonies containing thousands of individuals, during December and January. They produce one chalky white
egg that is laid on a mud mound in shallow water. Both parents incubate
the egg which takes 27 - 31 days to hatch.
Upon hatching the chicks are covered in white/grey down feathers and
they are fed a substance called "crop milk" which comes from the parents' upper digestive tract. Either parent can feed the chick this way
and other flamingos can act as foster feeders.
When the chicks are old enough to walk they
gather together in creches that are watched over by a few adult birds.
By the time young flamingos reach 6 - 10 months old they
are ready to fend for themselves and at 3 - 6 years old
they will have reached sexual maturity and gained their full adult plumage.
Predators
Andean Flamingos do not have many predators.
Chicks are preyed upon by culpeo foxes and birds of prey.
Interesting Facts
The Andean Flamingo is closely related to the Puna Flamingo.
Flamingo comes from the latin word for flame.
The flamingo's characteristic pink colouring
is caused by the beta carotene in their diet.

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CHILEAN FLAMINGO

location: South America
Habitat: Shallow, salty lakes and lagoons
Chilean flamingos stand four to five feet tall and can weigh anywhere from 13-16 pounds. They have a long neck and long, slender legs.
Their bill is bent downward in the middle.
Most of their body is coverd in pale pink feathers with darker pink and black wings.
Their legs are dull yellow or yellow-gray with dark pink bands at the joints and pink feet.
Flamingos will lock their “knees” (which are really their ankles) and stand on one leg. Standing in this manner helps them to conserve heat.
They typically will stand facing into the wind or rain so that
the water does not get into their feathers.
They have an excellent sense of hearing, but a very poor sense of smell.
These birds are social, usually living in flocks numbering in the thousands.
When in these large groups, they can be quite loud while making their deep, honking noises along with other vocalizations, such as grunting and howling.
They do everything in these groups including breeding, feeding and flying.
The large group is also their main defense.
Having so many individuals increases the possibility of predator sightings, but decreases the probability of an individual becoming prey.
Their main predators are humans and gulls, which eat their eggs.
Flamingos are filter feeders, eating aquatic invertebrates, seeds and algae from shallow water and mud.
They walk along the bottom of the lake kicking up the mud with their feet.
Water is sucked into their beak.
As their tongue pushes the water out, it is filtered through a row of spines, or lamellae, along the edge of the bill, which traps the food.
The pink coloration comes from pigments, called caretonoids, in the tiny animals they eat. In most captive populations, this pink color must be artificially added to the diet.
The courtship displays are quite elaborate.
The males and females will perform a number of head and wing movements which look similar to everyday preening, but are much more rigid.
Flamingos make their nests out of mud by piling the mud and forming it into a large mound about 15 inches in diameter and 1 ½ -2 feet tall.
The female makes an indentation on the top where she will lay her egg. Incubation lasts 27-31 days, and both the mother and father sit on the egg. When it hatches, the chick is covered with gray downy feathers.
Their beaks are straight at birth so that they can be fed by regurgitation from their parents. After a few months the beak curves.
They grow in their adult plumage after about two years.
They become sexually mature at 6 years of age. The typical lifespan in the wild is up to 50 years.
The Chilean Flamingo is listed on the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) Appendix II.
This appendix lists species that are in need of protection and are considered to be threatened, likely to become endangered, if trade is not regulated.
All flamingo populations could easily undergo a decline because they are found in such large numbers, which are necessary for proper breeding, and also because of their fragile wetland habitats.
Humans are the main threat for these birds due to either direct misuse of their home lands or from indirect damage such as changing characteristics
of the land such as water levels.

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flamingos - APPENDAGES

Legs.
-The legs of adult flamingos are longer than the flamingo's body, measuring between 80 to 125 cm (31.5-49 in.), depending on the species.
• The ankle is located about halfway up the leg.
• The knee is located close to the body and is not externally visible.
Feet.
The Chilean, greater, and lesser flamingos have three forward-pointing toes and a hallux, or hind toe.
• Andean and James' flamingos have three toes and no hallux.
• Webbing between the toes aids the bird in swimming and stirring up food.
• Coloration of the feet and legs is the same.
Wings.
The wingspan of flamingos ranges from 95 to 100 cm (37-39 in.) on the lesser flamingo to 140 to 165 cm (55-65 in.) on the greater flamingo. The Caribbean flamingo has a wingspan of 150 cm (59 in.).
• There are 12 principal flight feathers located on each wing. These black feathers are visible when the wings are extended.
Neck.
Flamingos have 19 elongated cervical (neck) vertebrae
giving their necks long and sinuous appearances.
The neck is long and sinuous.
A flamingo has 19 elongated cervical (neck)
vertebrae allowing for maximum movement and twisting.

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flamingos - COLORATION

-Feather color varies with species, ranging from pale
pink to crimson or vermilion.
-Caribbean flamingos have the brightest coloration: crimson or vermilion.
• The Chilean flamingo is pale pink.
-Feather coloration is derived from carotenoid pigments
found in a flamingo's food.
-Male and female flamingo coloration is the same.
-Newly-hatched chicks are gray or white.
Juveniles are grayish, taking approximately one to two years to obtain full adult coloration.
- Parents may lose some of their pink coloration while raising young.
- Coloration of a flamingo's legs and feet
varies according to species - from yellow to orange or pink-red. The Andean flamingo is the only species that has yellow legs and feet.

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flamingos - size

-The greater flamingo is the tallest flamingo, standing 120 to 150 cm (47-59 in.) and weighing up to 3.5 kg (7.7 lb.).
-The lesser flamingo is the smallest flamingo, standing 80 cm (31.5 in.) and weighing only 2.5 kg (5.5 lb.).
-Males reach full size between one-and-a-half and two years.
-Male flamingos are slightly larger than females, weighing more and having longer wingspans; however, visual sex determination of flamingos is unreliable.
-The wingspan of flamingos ranges from 95 to 100 cm (37-39 in.) for the lesser flamingo to 140 to 165 cm (55-65 in.) for the greater flamingo.
The Caribbean flamingo has a wingspan of 150 cm (59 in.).

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Young flamingos

Pink color is common in flamingos.
Young flamingos hatch with gray plumage, but adults range from light pink to bright red due to aqueous bacteria and beta carotene obtained from their food supply.
A well-fed, healthy flamingo is more vibrantly colored and is considered as a more desirable mate. So, what will happen
if a flamingo develops pink phobia? Lots of trouble. Isn't it? Actually
it happened with a pair of flamingo chicks at London Zoo.
The birds, named Little and Large, developed the pink-phobia after being fed using a pink sock puppet.
The cute chicks have since refused to have anything to do with the color pink - which could be a problem when they move into the flamingo pool.
Zoo staff are now hoping they get over their aversion
before developing their distinctive color, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Keeper Alison Brown, 30, said: "To try to encourage Little to feed by himself we've been wearing a hand puppet which imitates adult flamingos,
but unfortunately he was really terrified of the socks."
Ms Brown added: "We'll just have to hope they get used to the color pink
but I'm sure it won't be a problem. Once Little gets his own pink color he'll be fine."

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flamingos - FOSSIL RECORD

-Fossil evidence indicates that the group from which flamingos
evolved is very old and existed about 30 million years ago
before many other avian orders had evolved.
-The discovery and study of a fossil in 1976 suggested that flamingos arose from ancient shorebirds.
-Fossilized flamingo footprints, estimated to be
seven million years old, have been found in the Andes Mountains.

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flamingos -GENUS SPECIES

-There are five species of flamingos divided into three genera:
-Phoenicopterus ruber is divided into two distinct and geographically separated subspecies: P.r. ruber and P.r. roseus. Some scientists classify these as two separate species.
P.r. ruber, the Caribbean flamingo, is slightly smaller than P.r. roseus.
° P.r. roseus, the greater flamingo, is the largest of the flamingos and has deep pink wings.
• Phoenicopterus chilensis, the Chilean flamingo. Chilean flamingos are slightly smaller than Caribbean flamingos and have gray legs with pink bands at the joints.
• Phoenicopterus minor, the lesser flamingo. (Still sometimes listed in the genus Phoeniconaias). This species is the smallest of all flamingos. The color of the lesser flamingo is brighter than the greater flamingo.
• Phoenicoparrus jamesi, the James' flamingo.
This species is characterized by having all black flight feathers
including the secondary flight feathers, which are red in other species.
• Phoenicoparrus andinus, the Andean flamingo.
This is the only species of flamingo that has yellow legs and feet.
It also has a red spot between the nostrils.

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flamingos - Scientific Classification

ORDER - CICONIIFORMES
(ALSO LISTED AS ORDER PHOENICOPTERIFORMES)
-Members of this order have long legs and long necks.
Order Ciconiiformes also includes storks, herons, and ibises.
-The classification of flamingos has puzzled taxonomists for years.
The skeletal structure, egg-white proteins
and behavior patterns cause scientists to link flamingos to various groups.
-The pelvis and ribs of a flamingo are similar to those of storks.
• The composition of egg-white proteins in flamingo eggs are similar to that of the herons.
• Behavior patterns, especially those of chicks, link them closely to geese (Order Anseriformes). Flamingos also have webbed feet and waterproof plumage like geese.
• More recently, taxonomists have grouped flamingos in their own Order - Order Phoenicopteriformes.
FAMILY - PHOENICOPTERIDAE
-Flamingos are the only members of the family Phoenicopteridae.
Distinguishing characteristics include long legs; a long, curved neck; and a goose-like voice.

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flamingos - POPULATION

-The lesser flamingo is the most numerous of all flamingo species, with an
estimated population of 1.5 to 2.5 million individuals.
-The second most numerous flamingo species is the greater flamingo. Exact numbers of these birds are difficult to assess because of their extensive range and migration patterns.
-The Chilean flamingo is the most numerous of the
south American flamingos. Estimated total population is not more
than 200,000 individuals, and the population is in a decline.
-The James' flamingo has an estimated population of 64,000 individuals.
-Estimated population of the Andean flamingo is 33,927 birds with a decreasing trend.
- In 1956, the Caribbean flamingo numbers were estimated at only 21,500. Since then, the population has increased to a current estimate of 850,000 to 880,000 birds and a stable trend.

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flamingos MIGRATION

-Flamingos are generally non-migratory birds.
However, due to changes in the climate and
water levels in their breeding areas, flamingo colonies are not always permanent.
-Populations that breed in high-altitude lakes, which may freeze over in
the winter, move to warmer areas.
• When water levels rise, birds may search for more favorable sites.
• Drought conditions may force some flamingo populations to relocate.
• Most flamingos that migrate will return to their native colony to breed.
However, some may join a neighboring colony.
• When flamingos migrate, they do so mainly at night.
They prefer to fly with a cloudless sky and favorable tailwinds.
They can travel approximately 600 km (373 miles) in one night at about 50 to 60 kph (31-37 mph). When traveling during the day, the flamingos fly at high altitudes, possibly to avoid predation by eagles.
-The movements of the greater flamingo population living in Carmarque in southern France have been closely monitored since 1977.
Most flamingos that leave the colony go either southwest
to winter in Spain, or southeast to winter in Tunisia and Turkey.
• The percentage of birds that travel east
or west seems to depend on the direction of the prevailing
winds in the birds' first autumn.

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Flamingos habitat

-The flamingo's most characteristic habitats are large alkaline or saline lakes or estuarine lagoons that usually lack vegetation.
Lakes may be far inland or near the sea.
All flamingo species are found in tropical and subtropical areas.
-A variety of habitats are used by flamingos: mangrove swamps
tidal flats, and sandy islands in the intertidal zone.
-The presence or absence of fish may have a great influence
on the use of lakes by some flamingos.
-The Chilean flamingo is scarce or absent in lakes with fish.
It is present, usually in large numbers, where there are no fish with
which to compete for food.
-The introduction of fish to some lakes may seriously affect the distribution of the Chilean flamingo as well as the greater and
Caribbean flamingos, since they all feed primarily on invertebrates.
Other flamingo species are not affected because of different food sources.

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Flamingos distribution

DISTRIBUTION
-All flamingos are found in tropical and subtropical areas.
-Populations of Chilean flamingos are
found in central Peru, both coasts of southern South America (mainly in the winter), Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, Bolivia, and southern Brazil.
Stragglers have been reported on the Falkland Islands and Ecuador.
-The lesser flamingo is primarily an African species.
Populations are found in eastern, southwestern, and western Africa. In addition, a sizable population nests in India. Stragglers can be found as far north as southern Spain.
-The James' flamingo has the most restricted range of all flamingo species.
They are found in southern Peru, northeastern Chile, western Bolivia, and northwestern Argentina.
-Andean flamingos are found in southern Peru, north-central Chile, western Bolivia, and northwestern Argentina.
- The Caribbean flamingo is found throughout the Caribbean ( Cuba, the Bahamas, the Yucatan, Turks and Caicos), the Galapagos Islands, and the northern part of coastal South America.
- The greater flamingo has the most widespread distribution of all flamingo species. Populations are found in northwest India, the Middle East, the western Mediterranean
and Africa.
Limited numbers of this species can be found over much of northern Europe and eastward to Siberia.

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Brown Bear

The brown bear, also known as a grizzly in North America
is like the bears in Brother Bear.
They are large and are usually a dark brown
but can be a creamy shade or black.
They have long claws on their front paws and have a hump on their shoulders.
Their weight depends on the food available and it is a fact that bears can weigh twice as much in the autumn than in the spring.
The male adults weigh 135 kilograms to 390 kilograms. Cubs at birth weigh 340 to 680 grams.
Brown bears occupy a wide range of places like in eastern and western Europe, Northern Asia, Japan, Northern America, western Canada, Alaska, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Washington in forest areas
and central plains in mountains and tundra.
Grizzly catching salmon in riverDiet
Brown bears eat mainly vegetation in spring but like
salmon in summer and autumn and would hibernate in winter.
The vegetation they eat is grass, sedge, bulbs and roots.
In some places they also hunt moose, caribou and elk.
Grizzly with cub
The cubs are born from January to March and remain with their mums for two and a half years. They can have one to four cubs, but twins are the most common

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American Black Bear - wallpaper

American Black Bear - wallpaper

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American Black Bear

American black bears are like all the other bears
we have written about so far in my project.
Although they are usually black they can actually be brown
reddish brown or even white.
The white ones are called Kermode or spirit bears.
An adult black bear can be 130 to 190 centimetres long
and weigh 60 to 300 kilograms depending on how much food is available.
Cubs at birth weigh 225 to 330 grams.
Black bears like forests in Mexico, the United States and Canada
"White" black bear or Spirit bear
Spirit bear
Black bears eat lots of different things depending on what they can find.
They especially like insects and berries, but will sometimes hunt
baby deer and baby moose.
They would also catch salmonBlack bear with cubs in den
Cubs are usually born in January and February ina special den.
There can be 5 to 6 cubs in a litter and they stay with their mum
for one year and a half. In the wild they live up to 20 to 25 years.
They usually have twins.

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Asiatic Black Bear - wallpaper

Asiatic Black Bear - wallpaper

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Asiatic Black Bear

Asiatic black bears are medium sized
black bears with a distinct white patch on their chests
and have a white spot on their chins. Because of this on their chests people in Asia sometimes
call them Moon bears.
Their ears are good to help them be spotted (it helped me and
my mum work out who was who) because they are bigger than any other bears ears.
Size
They grow to 130 to 190 centimetres long and can weigh 100 to 200 kilograms.
The females are a lot smaller.
They live in forested areas and hill spots of southern Asia Afghanistan, Pakistan, northern India, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Burma, north-eastern China, south-eastern Russia, Taiwan, and on the Japanese islands of Shikoku and Honshu.
They probably don’t hibernate at winter time.
The cubs are born at different times of the year in different countries. They stay with their mums for two or three years. Sometimes the mother bears can be seen with cubs of different ages.
Asiatic black bears like to eat fruits, berries, insects, invertebrates
and small vertebrates and carrion.

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