Lesser flamingos feed on tiny algae in salty lakes. Lake Natron is their main breeding site in the region, and Lake Manyara and Momella Lakes also host large flocks when conditions allow. They move between lakes in search of food.
Waterbirds
Lesser Flamingo
Phoeniconaias minor
Pink flocks that turn East African soda lakes into a moving carpet.
Size
About 1 m tall
Lifespan
30-40 years
Diet
Blue-green algae filtered from the water.
Habitat
Alkaline and saline lakes.
About the lesser flamingo
Did you know?
01
Flamingos are pink because of pigments in their food.
02
A colony can number in the hundreds of thousands.
03
They breed only when water levels are just right.
When to see it
Gold months are usually the easiest time to find it.
Jan
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Trips that go there
Where to meet the lesser flamingo
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