The Great Rift Valley is one of the most famous highlights in Africa.

Thus, one can conclude that flamingos are precisely the expression,’ you are what you eat! The Great Rift Valley This is because algae and invertebrates have special coloring chemicals known as pigments. As they feed on algae and invertebrates, they slowly develop a reddish-pink shade. They are initially born with a dull gray color. The strikingly pretty plumage of the flamingoes is not hereditary or even in their DNA. While Lesser flamingos have a darker bill, greater has that of a pink bill. One way to differentiate between Lesser and Greater flamingos is through their bills. Greater flamingos are found in the continents of Africa Asia, Europe, and Oceania. They also feed on shoots, grass seeds, decaying leaves, and algae, and even ingest mud to remove any organic matter it may contain. Their diet consists of crustaceans, mollusks, crabs, insects, worms, and occasionally small fishes. They reside near saline or alkaline lakes, and estuaries. These birds favor warmer and watery regions. In the wild, Greater flamingos can live up to 30 to 40 years old. Greater flamingos have a majestic wingspan between 1.4 to 1.7 meters. They appear to be pale pink, have a long, lean neck, and have pink bills with a black tip that has a downward curve. The Greater flamingo is the largest out of all the species found. They can also be seen in parts of Sudan and Ethiopia. The best spots to observe these birds are near the Rift Valley Lakes, Southern Namibia, and Botswana. Lesser flamingos are primarily found in Eastern and Southern Africa. To some extent, they may also feed on small aquatic invertebrates such as rotifers. This is only found in alkaline lakes, saline lagoons, salt pans, and estuaries. Their diet consists of a highly specialized menu entirely of benthic diatoms and microscopic blue-green algae. Lesser Flamingo can live up to 40 to 50 years in the wild.

The female flamingos are shorter than the males. They have small heads, and long necks, and stand less than a meter tall. In comparison to other species, Lesser flamingos appear to be brighter in color. These birds have pink plumage, bills, and legs. Lesser flamingos are the shortest out of the five species of flamingos. There are two types of species in Africa: 1. Nevertheless, you can still stumble upon flamingos considering the right place and the right time.īefore we move on, it is important to know the species of flamingos found in Africa. Since their movement is based upon different factors, one can’t expect to see flamingos at every corner of the lake or wetland. They flock in great numbers in various parts of the continent. With their pretty pink plumage and long legs, flamingos thrive in Africa. However, one of the best spots to see the breathtaking sight of millions of flamingos is in Africa. These birds are usually found near wet habitats as they are quite adaptable.įlamingos are seen in the Caribbean, South America, the Middle East, and near the Mediterranean. Yet, they can still be spotted easily by birders. Although, there are only six species of flamingos remaining in the world.

Flamingos are spectacular birds, dressed in pink feathery coats.

Flamingo lake in kenya