Here you’ll find additional flamingo facts and photos as well as information. Make sure to check out this video clip of the bird’s hilarious courtship dance!
Greater Flamingo Facts at a Glance
Others names include: pink flamingo, pink flamingo,(member of the Aves class)Animal Family: PhoenicopteridaeWhere Found: The Middle East, Africa, Southern EuropeWingspan 140-170 cm (55 to 67 inches.)Size: between 110 and 150 centimeters (43 to 59 in.)The weight range is 2- 4.1 kg (4.5 9 – 9 lbs.)Conservation Status: Least ConcernOther fascinating Greater Flamingo facts: The greater flamingo is among the largest and the most widespread of the six species of flamingos.The word “flamingo” originates from Spanish meaning ‘flame colored’..
Greater Flamingo Video
Check out the video below to view Greater Flamingos in the wild. You can see that the young birds within the group are struggling striving to get their pink color. (The pink is caused by natural chemicals present in their food. Do Birds Pee
Meet the Greater Flamingo: Introduction
Flamingos are one of the most famous birds. The six species of flamingos have the well-known pink plumage and large, crooked , bill.Flamingos function as food filters. They are able to separate food from water by using specially-designed bills that are held up in the air upside-down when the bird is eating.
We’ll discuss this later on the page.The greater flamingo is considered to be the largest species of flamingo. Also, it is the most widely distributed and is found throughout Africa, Asia and Europe.The smaller and the greater flamingos are all located in the Americas (the continents comprising North as well as South America combined).
How to Recognize a Greater Flamingo
Greater flamingos are an imposing wading bird. It has thin, long legs, and webbed feet. The scales on the legs as well as feet shield the bird from potentially dangerous salt water, in which it spends a lot of its time.Adult greater flamingos have pale pink, with spots of red that are darker on their bodies.
The tips of their wings are black.The pink color of the flamingo is due to red-colored pigments known as carotenoids that are in the food that flamingos eat. Younger birds have a light grey-brown colorwith just the slightest hint of pink. As they mature and mature, they begin to change to pink.It is possible to be instructed to eat all your greens. A young flamingo gets instructed to eat its pinks!
The larger flamingo’s massive downwards curving beak is pink with black tips. The long legs of the flamingo are reddish-pink.
Greater Flamingo vs Lesser Flamingo
Greater flamingos share most the same habitat as smaller flamingos. It is easy to distinguish a larger flame from a smaller one due to the bigger dimension and lighter plumage. The larger flamingo has the lighter color of its bill, which typically is less black than the bill of lesser flamingos.
Greater Flamingo Facts: Size
The greater flamingo is largest of the species of the flamingo. Its height ranges from 110 to 150 centimeters (43 – 59 inches). They weigh between two and 4.1 tonnes (4.5 and 9lbs.). Males weigh more than females.The tallest males can reach the height of 190 centimeters (75 centimeters) in height. This is more than the average person!The wingspan of the larger Flamingo is 140 to 170 cm (55 – 67 inches.)
Greater Flamingo Family
The greater flamingo belongs to the family of Phoenicopteridae along with five other species of flamingos and their extinct cousins. Recent studies have revealed that the closest cousins are the Grebes smaller to medium-sized freshwater diving birds.
Where Does the Greater Flamingo Live
The greater flamingo’s extensive area includes areas that are located in Asia, Africa and Europe.A few of the countries where it can be present are: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Cyprus, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Gambia, Gibraltar, Greece, Guinea, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Morocco, Pakistan, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Turkey, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Greater Flamingo Habitat
The larger flamingo is found in regions of shallow salty waters which include estuaries, lakes, lagoons and beaches. They also frequent areas of freshwater to drink and bathe however, it rarely stays in these areas for extended periods of time.
Greater Flamingo Behavior
Greater Flamingos can be social animals, and typically are found in large flocks. Smaller groups can join during breeding season to create large flocks that contain several hundred thousand birds.Flamingos communicate using loud, cackles and goose-like honks.The greater flamingo is known for its nomad lifestyle.
It moves from location to place, as changes in water levels causes its wetland habitats dry up or to reappearing or when fresh food resources are discovered.Some populations travel between feeding grounds on the coast as well as breeding grounds in the interior and breeding grounds, where they gather in huge number to breed.
Greater Flamingo Diet & Feeding Adaptations
The greater flamingo’s diet is comprised mostly of the brine shrimp (tiny aquatic crustaceans) and blue-green algae (microscopic organisms that are floating on the water’s surface). It also eats mollusks insects, worms and small fish.The flamingo functions as an filter feeder. It separates food from salty water with its specially-designed bill.
To take a bite to eat, the flamingo lowers its head, then dips its bill upside-down into the water. It fills it with mud and water by using its tongue to pump it. The bill’s irregular shape indicates there is a gap in between bottom and top jaws remains approximately the same throughout the length of the bill. This stops big objects from getting into the mouth.
The flamingo pumps all the liquids from its mouth out through specially designed hairy plates inside the bill. They filter food particles from liquid and the mud. They then direct the food towards the bird’s throat through backwards facing spines inside the mouth as well as on the tongue.
Greater Flamingo Family Life
Male greater flamingos perform a unique courtship dance that entices females. The dance involves synchronized walking as well as simultaneously moving the head. For us, it appears like a comical sight, but we’re sure the female flamingo is amazing!
It is possible to see Andean flamingos with similar behaviors on the following video:Male and female flamingos take part in the construction of nests and egg incubation. They will protect the nest against other Flamingos. The nest is a mound of dried mud as well as other substances. The nest has a round hole on the top, where eggs are laid.
Within a few months it is time for the egg to hatch. The chick gets fed the dairy-like substance taken from the bird’s food. This is rich in protein and fats.
After about one few weeks, the baby starts to leave the nest. After a while, it will be in the creche with other chicks. Smaller creches will combine to create larger creches with hundreds of chickens.After two to three months, the flamingo’s bill is crooked developed and can feed itself.
Is The Greater Flamingo Endangered
The greater flamingo is a species that has an IUCN classification of of ‘ Low Inquiry’. It is a large global population that ranges from 550,000 to 680,000 people. In certain regions, the population remains stable while in others areas it seems to be increasing.
Greater Flamingo Facts For Kids: Conclusion
We hope you’ve been enthralled by learning about these incredible birds. The massive groups of lesser and greater Flamingos that gather over the shallow salt lakes of Africa are among the most stunning sights of nature. Maybe one day you’ll be able to be able to witness them!
… With the bird’s conservation ‘Least Concern’ rating, it’s highly likely that the birds will be around for the future generations of wildlife enthusiasts to take pleasure in!Categories Animal of the Week , Species Profile: Bird
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