# Lesser Flamingo (*Phoeniconaias minor*) The Lesser Flamingo is a beautiful bird known for its pink feathers and long legs. They love to live near lakes and eat tiny shrimp, which makes them pink! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Lesser Flamingo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Flamingo_in_Amboseli_National_Park.jpg&width=800) Photo: taken by myself, CC BY-SA 3.0 de · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flamingo_in_Amboseli_National_Park.jpg) ## Appearance The Lesser Flamingo is the smallest flamingo species, distinguished by its deep carmine-pink bill with a black tip and bright pink plumage. Its overall color is often more vibrant than other flamingos, with contrasting dark flight feathers. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Phoenicopteriformes - **Family:** Phoenicopteridae - **Genus:** Phoeniconaias ## Interesting facts - A single flock can have over a million birds, making an epic pink cloud! - Some flamingos can drink water so hot and salty, it would burn other animals! - Their knees actually bend backward, but what you see are their ankles! - They use a special bill to scoop up tiny algae, turning water into food! ## Special abilities - **Extreme Filterer:** Lesser Flamingos can filter tiny algae from harsh soda lakes because of their unique deep-keeled bill shape. - **Toxic Lake Survivor:** Lesser Flamingos have tough skin and legs that help them thrive in caustic, highly alkaline waters. - **Massive Flock Power:** Lesser Flamingos can gather in huge flocks of millions, which helps them find food and spot predators. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 80-90 cm - **Wingspan:** 90-100 cm - **Weight:** 1.5-2.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 20-30 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1 - **Incubation:** 28-31 days - **Migration Distance:** 2000 km ## Diet & Feeding These tiny flamingos filter microscopic blue-green algae and diatoms from salty water. - **Primary Foods:** Arthrospira fusiformis, diatoms, Dunaliella salina - **Foraging Method:** Filter feeding ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Tawny Eagle (*Aquila rapax*) — Eagles prey on vulnerable flamingo chicks and eggs. - **Eaten by:** [Marabou Stork](https://www.snappit.app/explore/marabou-stork) (*Leptoptilos crumeniferus*) — Storks often raid nests for eggs and young chicks. - **Eaten by:** African Fish Eagle (*Haliaeetus vocifer*) — Eagles opportunistically hunt adult flamingos. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Threatened](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/threatened): Threatened status denotes a species likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future without effective conservation interventions. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch flamingos from a distance to keep them safe and happy. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Lesser Flamingo? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Lesser Flamingo? 80-90 cm ### What is Lesser Flamingo's wingspan? 90-100 cm ### How much does Lesser Flamingo weigh? 1.5-2.5 kg ### How long does Lesser Flamingo live? 20-30 years ### How fast can Lesser Flamingo move? 60 km/h ### What does Lesser Flamingo eat? These tiny flamingos filter microscopic blue-green algae and diatoms from salty water. ### Where is Lesser Flamingo usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [Abilene Zoological Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/abilene-zoological-gardens) — Texas, US · Zoo - [Zoo Aschersleben](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-aschersleben) — Sachsen-Anhalt, DE · Zoo - [Tiergarten Delitzsch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tiergarten-delitzsch) — Sachsen, DE · Zoo - [Tierpark Bad Liebenstein](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-bad-liebenstein) — Thüringen, DE · Zoo [View all places to see Lesser Flamingo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/lesser-flamingo) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Lesser Flamingo: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lesser-flamingo)