Lesser Flamingo
Phoeniconaias minor

Hanging its head upside-down under water, the flamingo swings its head side to side. Its tongue pumps water through the sieve-like ridges that line the unique flamingo beak to trap microscopic algae. Equipped with such an efficient feeding system, lesser flamingos can filter up to 20 beakfuls of water per second.

Fact File

Wingspan: 3 to 4 ft

Weight: 5 to 6 lbs

Lifespan: 40 to 50 yrs in the wild

Habitat: Shallow salty lakes

Diet: Blue-green algae