Lesser Flamingo

The Lesser Flamingo - Phoenicopterus minor - is a nomadic bird, found throughout Africa, as well as Spain, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Oman and Yemen. Over two thirds of the population are found in the alkaline lakes of east Africa. This species is itinerant and makes extensive movements in response to adverse environmental conditions. Flamingo movements take place mostly at night. The birds fly in large, V-shaped formations between water-bodies when food stocks have become depleted.

Description

The Lesser Flamingo is the smallest species of flamingo with pinkish white plumage. They are shorter and darker pink than the greater flamingo. The lesser flamingos also differ in the colouration of the beak, with a deep red bill, tipped with black, whereas the bill of greater flamingos is light pink, tipped with black. They have deep crimson legs, the eyes are yellow to orange and are surrounded by a maroon ring. Males are slightly taller than females, and juveniles have brown feathers and a dark grey beak.

Call

Lesser Flamingo’s flight call is a high pitched “kwirrik”. Feeding or walking birds give a low murmuring “murrrh-murrrh-errh”.

Food

It has a highly specialised diet consisting almost entirely of microscopic blue-green algae and benthic diatoms found only in alkaline lakes, salt pans and saline lagoons and estuaries.

Breeding

The species breeds on large undisturbed alkaline and saline lakes, salt pans or coastal lagoons. The timing of breeding is irregular and varies geographically depending on the timing of the rains, with individual adults often not breeding annually. They lay a single chalky white egg on mounds they build of mud. The egg is incubated by both parents in 24 hour shifts for about 28 days. After hatching, the grey chick eats its own shell and is then fed a liquid soup by its parents for the next few months. Chicks join creches soon after hatching, sometimes numbering over a hundred thousand individuals. Each chick must learn to recognise the ‘murr-err, murr-err’ call of its parents. The creches are marshalled by a few adult birds who lead them by foot to fresh water, a journey that can reach over 20 miles. They learn to fly at 12 weeks.

Conservation Status – Near-threatened

Despite being the most numerous species of flamingo, it is classified as near-threatened due to its declining population and the low number of breeding sites, some of which are threatened by human activities. Only three main breeding sites exist in Africa, all facing threats and requiring protection. The only breeding site in South Africa is situated at Kamfers Dam which is threatened by flooding, pollution and encroaching development.

Birdwatching

Ask Aves Birding Tours to create a tour for you to see these striking or book on one of the following scheduled Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures: -

Aves Arid Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.

Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.

Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.