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Lesser flamingo

February 15, 2024

The lesser flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) is a species of flamingo occurring in sub-Saharan Africa and western India.[4] Birds are occasionally reported from further north, but these are generally considered vagrants.

Lesser flamingo
At Lake Nakuru, Kenya
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Phoenicopteriformes
Family: Phoenicopteridae
Genus: Phoeniconaias
Species:
P. minor
Binomial name
Phoeniconaias minor
Synonyms

Characteristics edit

The lesser flamingo is the smallest species of flamingo, though it is a tall and large bird by most standards. The species can weigh from 1.2 to 2.7 kg (2.6 to 6.0 lb).[5] The standing height is around 80 to 90 cm (31 to 35 in).[6][7] The total length (from beak to tail) and wingspan are in the same range of measurements, from 90 to 105 cm (35 to 41 in).[6][8] Most of the plumage is pinkish white. The clearest difference between this species and the greater flamingo, the only other Old World species of flamingo, is the much more extensive black on the bill. Size is less helpful to distinguish the two species, unless they occur together, since the sexes of each species also differ in height.

The extinct species Phoeniconaias proeses in the same genus, from the Pliocene of Australia, is thought to have been even smaller.[9]

The lesser flamingo may be the most common species of flamingo, with a population that (at its peak) probably numbered up to two million individual birds. This species feeds primarily on Spirulina, algae which grow only in very alkaline lakes. Presence of flamingo groups near water bodies is an indication of sodic alkaline water which is not suitable for irrigation use. Although blue-green in colour, the algae contain the photosynthetic pigments that give the birds their pink colour. Their deep bill is specially adapted for filtering tiny food items.

Predators edit

Lesser flamingos are prey to a variety of species, including marabou storks, vultures, baboons, African fish eagles, jackals, hyenas, foxes, Great white pelicans, Martial Eagle, and big cats.[10][11]

Breeding edit

 
Eggs

In Africa, where they are most common, the lesser flamingos breed principally on the highly caustic Lake Natron in northern Ngorongoro District in Arusha Region of Tanzania. Their other African breeding sites are at Etosha Pan, Makgadikgadi Pan, and Kamfers Dam. The last confirmed breeding season at Aftout es Saheli in coastal Mauritania was in 1965. Breeding occurred at Lake Magadi in Kenya in 1962 when Lake Natron was unsuitable due to flooding. In the early 20th century, breeding was also observed at Lake Nakuru.[12]

The species also breeds in southwestern and southern Asia. In 1974, they bred at the Rann of Kutch, but since then, only at the Zinzuwadia and Purabcheria salt pans in northwestern India.[12][4] Some movement of individuals occurs between Africa and India.[13]

Like all flamingos, they lay a single chalky-white egg on a mound they build of mud. Chicks join creches soon after hatching, sometimes numbering over 100,000 individuals. The creches are marshalled by a few adult birds that lead them by foot to fresh water, a journey that can reach over 20 mi (32 km).

Conservation edit

Despite being the most common 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.[14]

The population in the two key East African lakes, Nakuru and Bogoria, have been adversely affected in recent years by suspected heavy metal poisoning, while its primary African breeding area in Lake Natron is currently under threat by a proposed soda ash plant by Tata Chemicals.[15] The only breeding site in South Africa, situated at Kamfers Dam, is threatened by pollution and encroaching development.[16]

The lesser flamingo is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds applies.

Media edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b BirdLife International (2018). "Phoeniconaias minor". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22697369A129912906. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22697369A129912906.en. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  2. ^ Geoffroy, C. (1798). "Sur une nouvelle espèce de Phœnicoptère ou Flammant". Bulletin des sciences par la Société philomathique. 1 (15).
  3. ^ Gray, G.R. (1869). "Notes on the bills of the species of Flamingo (Phœnicopterus)". Ibis. New Series. 5 (20): 438–443. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1869.tb06897.x.
  4. ^ a b Manakadan, R. & Khan, A. N. (2020). "Birds of the Indian Subcontinent – In a Nutshell". Buceros. 24 (Special Issue 2 & 3): 1–79.
  5. ^ . www.arkive.org. Archived from the original on 14 May 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  6. ^ a b . Archived from the original on 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
  7. ^ "Home | San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants".
  8. ^ Ali, S. (1993). The Book of Indian Birds. Bombay: Bombay Natural History Society. ISBN 0-19-563731-3.
  9. ^ Miller, A.H. (1963). "The fossil flamingos of Australia" (PDF). The Condor. 65 (4): 289–299. doi:10.2307/1365355.
  10. ^ DiBuono, L. 2017. "Phoeniconaias minor" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed March 05, 2021 at https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Phoeniconaias_minor/
  11. ^ "Lesser Flamingo". Oakland Zoo. Oakland Zoo. 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  12. ^ a b Anderson, M. D. (2008). "A Vision in Pink, Lesser Flamingo Breeding Success". Africa - Birds & Birding. 13 (2): 42–49.
  13. ^ Parasharya, B.M.; Rank, D.N.; Harper, D.M.; Crosa, G.; Zaccara, S.; Patel, N.; Joshi, C.G. (2015). "Long-distance dispersal capability of Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor between India and Africa: Genetic inferences for future conservation plans". Ostrich. 86 (3): 221. doi:10.2989/00306525.2015.1053827. S2CID 86056411.
  14. ^ Anderson, M. D. "Save the Flamingo". Retrieved 2008-08-20.
  15. ^ "TA-TA to Lake Natron's flamingos". Africa - Birds & Birding. 12 (4): 16. 2007.
  16. ^ Macleod, F. (2008). "Flamingo row: Officials 'under house arrest'". Mail&Guardian. Retrieved 2008-08-20.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Phoenicopterus minor (category)
  • - a collection of resources and information related to flamingos
  • ARKive -
  • Lesser Flamingo - Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds.
  • Save the Flamingo - A site dedicated to the conservation of the South African breeding colony

February 15, 2024
lesser, flamingo, lesser, flamingo, phoeniconaias, minor, species, flamingo, occurring, saharan, africa, western, india, birds, occasionally, reported, from, further, north, these, generally, considered, vagrants, lake, nakuru, kenyaconservation, statusnear, t. The lesser flamingo Phoeniconaias minor is a species of flamingo occurring in sub Saharan Africa and western India 4 Birds are occasionally reported from further north but these are generally considered vagrants Lesser flamingoAt Lake Nakuru KenyaConservation statusNear Threatened IUCN 3 1 1 CITES Appendix II CITES 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder PhoenicopteriformesFamily PhoenicopteridaeGenus PhoeniconaiasSpecies P minorBinomial namePhoeniconaias minor Geoffroy Saint Hilaire E 1798 SynonymsPhoenicopterus minor Geoffroy Saint Hilaire 1798 2 Phoeniconaias minor George Robert Gray 1869 3 Contents 1 Characteristics 2 Predators 3 Breeding 4 Conservation 5 Media 6 References 7 External linksCharacteristics editThe lesser flamingo is the smallest species of flamingo though it is a tall and large bird by most standards The species can weigh from 1 2 to 2 7 kg 2 6 to 6 0 lb 5 The standing height is around 80 to 90 cm 31 to 35 in 6 7 The total length from beak to tail and wingspan are in the same range of measurements from 90 to 105 cm 35 to 41 in 6 8 Most of the plumage is pinkish white The clearest difference between this species and the greater flamingo the only other Old World species of flamingo is the much more extensive black on the bill Size is less helpful to distinguish the two species unless they occur together since the sexes of each species also differ in height The extinct species Phoeniconaias proeses in the same genus from the Pliocene of Australia is thought to have been even smaller 9 The lesser flamingo may be the most common species of flamingo with a population that at its peak probably numbered up to two million individual birds This species feeds primarily on Spirulina algae which grow only in very alkaline lakes Presence of flamingo groups near water bodies is an indication of sodic alkaline water which is not suitable for irrigation use Although blue green in colour the algae contain the photosynthetic pigments that give the birds their pink colour Their deep bill is specially adapted for filtering tiny food items Predators editLesser flamingos are prey to a variety of species including marabou storks vultures baboons African fish eagles jackals hyenas foxes Great white pelicans Martial Eagle and big cats 10 11 Breeding edit nbsp EggsIn Africa where they are most common the lesser flamingos breed principally on the highly caustic Lake Natron in northern Ngorongoro District in Arusha Region of Tanzania Their other African breeding sites are at Etosha Pan Makgadikgadi Pan and Kamfers Dam The last confirmed breeding season at Aftout es Saheli in coastal Mauritania was in 1965 Breeding occurred at Lake Magadi in Kenya in 1962 when Lake Natron was unsuitable due to flooding In the early 20th century breeding was also observed at Lake Nakuru 12 The species also breeds in southwestern and southern Asia In 1974 they bred at the Rann of Kutch but since then only at the Zinzuwadia and Purabcheria salt pans in northwestern India 12 4 Some movement of individuals occurs between Africa and India 13 Like all flamingos they lay a single chalky white egg on a mound they build of mud Chicks join creches soon after hatching sometimes numbering over 100 000 individuals The creches are marshalled by a few adult birds that lead them by foot to fresh water a journey that can reach over 20 mi 32 km Conservation editDespite being the most common 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 14 The population in the two key East African lakes Nakuru and Bogoria have been adversely affected in recent years by suspected heavy metal poisoning while its primary African breeding area in Lake Natron is currently under threat by a proposed soda ash plant by Tata Chemicals 15 The only breeding site in South Africa situated at Kamfers Dam is threatened by pollution and encroaching development 16 The lesser flamingo is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds applies Media edit nbsp In Chilika Odisha India nbsp At Disney s Animal Kingdom nbsp Painting by C G Finch Davies nbsp Lake Nakuru Kenya source source source source Video taken at Disney s Animal Kingdom nbsp Breeding colony at Kamfers Dam nbsp Juvenile in flight Madagascar nbsp Huge flock at Lake Bogoria Kenya nbsp Adult Feeding Jamnagar India nbsp Juvenile Feeding Jamnagar India nbsp Juvenile Jamnagar India nbsp Adult Jamnagar India nbsp Juvenile Jamnagar India nbsp Juveniles Jamnagar IndiaReferences edit a b BirdLife International 2018 Phoeniconaias minor IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018 e T22697369A129912906 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2018 2 RLTS T22697369A129912906 en Retrieved 27 January 2022 Geoffroy C 1798 Sur une nouvelle espece de Phœnicoptere ou Flammant Bulletin des sciences par la Societe philomathique 1 15 Gray G R 1869 Notes on the bills of the species of Flamingo Phœnicopterus Ibis New Series 5 20 438 443 doi 10 1111 j 1474 919X 1869 tb06897 x a b Manakadan R amp Khan A N 2020 Birds of the Indian Subcontinent In a Nutshell Buceros 24 Special Issue 2 amp 3 1 79 Lesser flamingo Phoeniconaias minor ARKive www arkive org Archived from the original on 14 May 2009 Retrieved 15 January 2022 a b FLAMINGOS Physical Characteristics Archived from the original on 2012 07 10 Retrieved 2012 07 23 Home San Diego Zoo Animals amp Plants Ali S 1993 The Book of Indian Birds Bombay Bombay Natural History Society ISBN 0 19 563731 3 Miller A H 1963 The fossil flamingos of Australia PDF The Condor 65 4 289 299 doi 10 2307 1365355 DiBuono L 2017 Phoeniconaias minor On line Animal Diversity Web Accessed March 05 2021 at https animaldiversity org accounts Phoeniconaias minor Lesser Flamingo Oakland Zoo Oakland Zoo 2020 Retrieved 4 March 2021 a b Anderson M D 2008 A Vision in Pink Lesser Flamingo Breeding Success Africa Birds amp Birding 13 2 42 49 Parasharya B M Rank D N Harper D M Crosa G Zaccara S Patel N Joshi C G 2015 Long distance dispersal capability of Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor between India and Africa Genetic inferences for future conservation plans Ostrich 86 3 221 doi 10 2989 00306525 2015 1053827 S2CID 86056411 Anderson M D Save the Flamingo Retrieved 2008 08 20 TA TA to Lake Natron s flamingos Africa Birds amp Birding 12 4 16 2007 Macleod F 2008 Flamingo row Officials under house arrest Mail amp Guardian Retrieved 2008 08 20 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Phoenicopterus minor category Flamingo Resource Centre a collection of resources and information related to flamingos ARKive Images and movies of the lesser flamingo Phoenicopterus minor Lesser Flamingo Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds Save the Flamingo A site dedicated to the conservation of the South African breeding colony Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lesser flamingo amp oldid 1166093564, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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