Photo: Charles J Sharp / CC BY 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Lesser Flamingo
Phoeniconaias minor
Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) — Grebes, Loons & Flamingos of Africa.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) is a member of the Phoenicopteridae family found in Africa and South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 1.5 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Phoenicopteriformes
- Family Phoenicopteridae Flamingos
- Genus Phoeniconaias
- Species minor
Where it lives
Eastern Africa, Namibia, Botswana to Mauritania and Senegal; northwestern India and southeastern Pakistan
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.5 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic plant-eaters
- Family
- Phoenicopteridae
- Order
- Phoenicopteriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Lesser Flamingo feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Lesser Flamingo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) is a member of the Phoenicopteridae family, within the order Phoenicopteriformes. It is found across Africa and South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers AF, OR e Africa, Namibia, Botswana to Mauritania and Senegal; nw India and se Pakistan.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.5 kg, with a wing length of about 31.8 cm and a tail of around 10 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 248,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Lesser Flamingo?
The Lesser Flamingo is a very large bird that weighs around 1.5 kg.
Where does the Lesser Flamingo live?
The Lesser Flamingo is found across Africa and South & Southeast Asia with a range covering AF, OR e Africa, Namibia, Botswana to Mauritania and Senegal; nw India and se Pakistan, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Lesser Flamingo belong to?
The Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) belongs to the Phoenicopteridae family, in the order Phoenicopteriformes.
What does the Lesser Flamingo eat?
The Lesser Flamingo feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Does the Lesser Flamingo migrate?
The Lesser Flamingo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Lesser Flamingo endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Lesser Flamingo make?
1 real field recording of the Lesser Flamingo — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Lesser Flamingo's range?
The Lesser Flamingo has a mapped global range of about 248,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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