Their call is a loud goose-like honking which sounds like “ ka-haunk”. Picture 3 – Greater Flamingo Flying Sounds The Flamingos generally glide without flapping the wings continuously. They can fly at a speed of around 300 miles/hour. The colonies living in the northern regions of Asia migrate to the coastal areas of India and Iran in winter. The Greater Flamingo populations living in warm climates do not migrate during cold seasons. Other reasons for their migration include scarcity of food, water-level changes and competition within a single colony. Northern populations of these birds often migrate to warm regions during winter. This helps the birds to conserve energy to keep from freezing while standing in cold water. Like other Flamingos, they can stand on one leg while the other leg is hidden inside their feathers.This adaptive feature helps them to avoid being preyed on. The Greater Flamingos have webbed feet that help them to swim.Their tongues are another adoptive feature that helps them to pump water through their beaks.These plates help to filter small invertebrates and insects from the water. There are many comb-like plates arranged in rows inside their beaks. Greater Flamingo birds use their specialized beaks for filtering food.The adaptive features of this Flamingo species help them to survive in their natural habitat: Their predators also include various large birds of prey. Mammals like Raccoons, Jaguars and Margays are known to prey on them. Picture 2 – Greater Flamingo Picture Predators But they protect their nests during breeding seasons. These Flamingos are generally non- territorial.The birds are very noisy, especially during the mating season.This species form monogamous pairs which means each pair remains together for their entire lives.They spend around 1/4th of their time in cleaning themselves.These social birds always build their nests in large colonies of over 20,000 pairs.They generally move in large groups or flocks like all Flamingo species.Their long feet are often used for stirring up the muddy bottom of the water body to find prey.They also walk steadily at the same time. The Greater Flamingos feed with both their head and neck underwater.Behaviorįind out about some of their behavior patterns: Their diet also consists of various plant materials such as algae, grass, decaying leaves and shoots. This omnivorous species feed on mollusks, crustaceans, insects, crabs, worms and small fishes. They also inhabit large alkaline and saline lakes. These birds prefer salt water lagoons in coastal areas. They are found in many European countries such as Spain, Albania, Turkey, Portugal, Italy, Cyprus, Greece and France. In Asia, their distribution range includes the coastal areas of India and Pakistan. They are found in various regions of Africa, the southeastern parts of Asia as well as southern Europe. Legs: Adults have pink legs while the legs of the juveniles are brown. Juvenile Greater Flamingos have brown beaks. Eyes: The Flamingos of this species have yellow eyes.īeak: Their typical downward-bending beaks are pink with a black tip.
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