Flamingos have specialized beaks to feed in their shallow-water habitats.
Flamingos are large birds that inhabit many different tropical and subtropical areas of the world. In the United States, the birds are rare, casual visitors to the coastal regions of the southeastern states. They are usually found in large colonies near a body of water. They wade through the water of their habitats, and often stand on only one of their long legs.
Geography
There are different color variations and species of flamingos.
Greater flamingos are residents of the Galapagos Islands, the Yucatan, Bahamas and West Indies. They are the only species found in the United States, albeit rarely. Other species, such as the Chilean, James' and lesser flamingos are found in South America and Africa.
Habitat
Flamingos prefer shallow water.
Flamingos of all species prefer shallow waters in which they can easily feed off of algae, small insects, mollusks, crustaceans and small fish. The greater flamingo is known to reside in mudflats and shallow lagoons. Other habitats include mangrove swamps, tidal flats and sand-rich islands. Flamingos typically prefer saline or alkaline bodies of water.
Habitat Features
Most of the bodies of water inhabited by Chilean and greater flamingos have low fish populations. This helps to ensure that the birds are not competing with fish for food. Most species also prefer water with low vegetation. Lesser flamingo are among the only species that can eat in and inhabit volcanic lakes with pH levels up to 10.5. They do, however, need to drink and rinse with fresh water, forcing them to sometimes leave their habitat to find it.
Migratory Habits
Flamingos may migrate depending on different occurrences within their habitats, such as climate changes or water levels. In Africa, the lesser flamingos often migrate to find new bodies of water due to their water source drying up, taking their food with it. Flamingo species that inhabit higher elevation lakes may also migrate in the winter months due to the water freezing.
Fun Facts
A flamingo's habitat provides the backdrop to showcase their interesting method of eating. The shallow water allows the flamingo to turn its head upside down and sweep its beak side to side to allow for food collection and filtering. Flamingos filter their food with their tongues, up to 20 mouthfuls per second. The flamingos' food also gives them their unusual color: the algae in the water that they consume provides the pink pigment in their feathers.
Related posts
Flamingos are found in tropical and subtropical areasFlamingos are birds known for their pink feathers, long legs and hooked bills. The pink or reddish color of their feathers can be attributed to...
Flamingo's HabitatFlamingos are well known for their pink plumage that makes them easily recognizable. Their pink hue come from carotenoid pigments found in the food sources they consume. The inte...
It's typical to hear people refer to these birds as "pink" flamingos, which seems redundant; however, depending on their habitat, flamingos' coloration can range from the palest pink (ne...
Flamingos are one of the most ancient species of birds alive today.There are six different species of flamingos, all of which are immediately identifiable by their body shape and pink feathers, wh...
With bright pink feathers and a habit of standing on only one leg, flamingos are one of the most recognizable waterbirds. Without fail, every zoo tells visitors the same standard information at i...
