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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