Lesser Flamingo

Lesser flamingos are the smallest species of flamingo in the world. On average they weigh between 3-4.5 lbs, stand just under 3 feet tall, and have a 3 foot wingspan. Although flamingos are known for their pink coloration, feathers can vary between white and pink depending on locality and season. Lesser flamingos have a very dark bill and long bright pink legs. Juveniles are gray-brown and become lighter as they get older.

Lesser flamingos are found regionally in different parts of Africa and western India. Their largest area spans southern Africa and up the eastern side of Africa towards Yemen. There are isolated populations in central Africa, west Africa, and western India.

These birds typically inhabit salty inland waters, or alkaline water (high in pH). They preferentially live most of the year in coastal bodies of water like estuaries and coastal lagoons. During breeding, they come further in from shore to live in mudflats.

Lesser flamingos are highly specialized filter-feeding omnivores that are almost entirely dependent on microscopic blue green algae and diatoms. Their diet is supplemented with small invertebrates, mainly arthropods. The flamingo’s trademark pink color is obtained from carotenoids, a natural pigment found in their food, that gets deposited in their feathers.

Flamingos filter feed by lowering their heads and submerging their beaks upside-down in the water. They siphon water into their beak as they sway their heads from side to side. Comb-like structures along the edge of their bills act as a filter that traps food inside and pushes the water out.

Lesser flamingos are known for being highly social and living in large flocks, or colonies, that consist of anywhere from a few individuals to tens of thousands. They are usually considered diurnal animals; however, they often forage the most at dusk and dawn as they follow the low tide to get their food. When relocating to breeding sites they will move in large groups under cover of night.

During mating season, they gather to perform mating ritual displays in tightly packed groups. These displays last anywhere from several minutes to several weeks. Successful breeding is incredibly difficult for flamingos. Breeding is irregular and dependent on suitable conditions, which changes for each population location of flamingos. Lesser flamingos usually only breed every 5-8 years, at which point they only lay one egg, rarely they will lay two. Flamingos will time laying their eggs such that all flamingo chicks hatch at relatively the same time within a population. This gives the chicks a much higher chance of survival. It takes 3 to 4 years for a fledgling to grow into its adult plumage.

Oakland Zoo is home to a flock of over 20 lesser flamingos. Because of their declining population in the wild, many facilities work to breed flamingos on a species survival plan (SSP). So far there have been no chicks from our flock (at least not since the 90’s), but we have observed several breeding behaviors. Most amusingly, the males get together for a “parade” of sorts during the breeding season and all start copying each other’s movements.

Oakland Zoo is part of the breeding effort to stabilize lesser flamingo populations. We do this by participating in the Lesser Flamingo Species Survival Plan (SSP). We hope to have our flock produce chicks that can diversify the gene pool!