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Home > Species > Lesser Flamingo
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Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor
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None known. |
The Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor is the smallest and most numerous of the flamingo species with a total population size of between 2,220,000 and 3,240,000 individuals.
Four regional sub-populations have been identified:
- 15,000 - 25,000 individuals in W Africa
- 1,500,000 - 2,500,000 in E Africa
- 55,000 - 65,000 in S Africa and Madagascar
- 650,000 in S Asia
It is distinguised from all other flamingos by its small size, all dark coloured bill and red eyes. It is the only member of the genus Phoeniconaias, which translates to 'crimson water nymph'.
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Order:
Family:
Genus:
Species: |
Phoenicopteriformes
Phoenicopteridae
Phoeniconaias
Phoeniconaias minor (Saint-Hilaire, 1798)
Alternatively, Phoenicopterus minor in AERC TAC (2003), Collar et al. (1994), Sibley & Monroe (1990, 1993), Dowsett & Forbes-Watson (1993), Cramp & Simmons (1977-1994) and BirdLife International (2000, 2004 & 2006).
Placement in the genus Phoeniconaias follows Dickinson (2003) contra Sibley & Monroe (1990, 1993) because the distinctive interior bill morphology indicates differentiation at generic level from Phoenicopterus.
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Source: BirdLife (Lesser Flamingo Species Factsheet)
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Height: c. 99 cm (3 ft 3 in)
Weight: c. 2.0 kg (4.5 lb)
Wingspan: c. 99 cm (3 ft 3 in)
Voice:
Small flamingo. Pinkish white plumage with an all black bill apart from reddish patch near tip, red eyes, and pink legs.
Similar species: Greater Flamingos are paler, much larger with proportionally longer necks and legs, and have less black on the bill. |
| Range estimate (breeding/resident): |
331,000 km2
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From BirdLife: Lesser Flamingos breed mainly in the Rift Valley lakes of East Africa in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania. Three smaller breeding congregations occur in West Africa, in southern Africa, and in India and Pakistan in Asia. When not breeding, it occurs in virtually every sub-Saharan country and from the Arabian peninsula to Pakistan. The global population is c.2,220,000-3,240,000, including c.650,000 in Asia. Declines have been suggested for much of Africa, but are difficult to clarify due to widescale movement within the continent. It is adapted to respond to local environmental changes in sites by moving elsewhere, and thus depends on a network of suitable areas.
Detailed range map from IUCN/BirdLife:
(Click to enlarge)
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From BirdLife: This species makes extensive movements in response to adverse conditions. It breeds in huge colonies of many thousands of pairs on large, undisturbed alkaline and saline lakes or coastal lagoons, usually far out from the shore. The timing of breeding varies geographically and pairs may not breed every year6. It is adapted to respond to local environmental changes in sites by moving elsewhere, and thus depends on a network of suitable areas. It has a highly specialised diet consisting almost entirely of microscopic blue-green algae (Spirulina spp., Oscillatoria spp. and Lyngbya spp.) and diatoms (Navicula spp., Bacillariophyceae)6. To a lesser extent the species will also take small aquatic invertebrates such as rotifers (Brachiomus spp).
Sources: BirdLife (Lesser Flamingo Species Factsheet) and IUCN (Lesser Flamingo)
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Population estimate:
Population trend: |
2,220,000 - 3,240,000 (2002-2006 estimates)
Decreasing
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From BirdLife: 15,000-25,000 individuals in W. Africa (Trolliet & Fouquet 2002, Trolliet et al. 2004, T. Dodman in litt. 2002 to Wetlands International 2002); 1,500,000-2,500,000 in E. Africa (unpublished information supplied by Wetlands International Specialist Groups to Wetlands International 2006); 55,000-65,000 in S. Africa and Madagascar (Dodman 2002); 650,000 in S. Asia (Parasharya and Tere in litt. 2005 to Wetlands International 2006).
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From BirdLife: Only three main breeding sites exist in Africa, all facing threats and requiring protection. Proposed soda-ash mining and hydro-electric power schemes affecting the main breeding site, Lake Natron in Tanzania, though currently put on hold, could cause rapid overall population declines due to disturbance and the introduction of an alien brine shrimp to clean the soda of algae (the flamingo's food). Other threats include land-claim, water pollution, and disturbance, and there are fears that the population at Lake Bogoria is suffering from malnutrition.
Sources: BirdLife (Lesser Flamingo Species Factsheet)
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Conservation measures | ^ top |
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Breeding occurs at an artificially created site at Kamfers Dam, South Africa.
Proposed measures:- Regularly monitor the population at Lake Natron and other key sites.
- Ensure complete and permanent protection of all breeding congregations, particularly those at Lake Natron.
Sources: BirdLife (Lesser Flamingo Species Factsheet)
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Captive collections |
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BirdLife. 2008. Lesser Flamingo Species Factsheet. From http://www.birdlife.org/
datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=3771&m=0, downloaded 15 Nov 2008.
International Species Information System (ISIS). ISIS Species Holdings. From http://www.isis.org/CMSHOME/, downloaded 13 Oct 2008.
IUCN. 2008. Lesser Flamingo. From http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/144723, downloaded 13 Nov 2008.
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