Kingdom : Animalia Class : Aves Family : Phoenicopteridae Scientific Name : Phoenicopterus Size(H) : 100cm - 150cm ( 39in - 59in) Wing Span : 100cm - 180cm ( 59in - 71in) Weight : 2kg - 4kg ( 4.4lbs - 8.8lbs) Top Speed : 50kn/h (31mph) Life Span : 15 - 30 years Colour : Pink, Orange, Blue, White Skin Type : Feathers Distinctive Features : Long, curved beak and sleep standing on one leg
- Flamingos are large colorful birds mostly found in South America and America.
- There are six different species of Flamingos in all.
- Most of them are pink or orange in color with some of them being white, black or blue.
- They get their distinctive color from a type of algae that they feed on.
- They usually stay in flocks of around 200 birds.
- Interestingly, a Flamingo sleeps standing on a single leg.
- The half of flamingo’s body with the leg on ground, is active while the other half sleeps.
- To take complete rest, the Flamingo changes its leg to give the other half of the body rest.
- Flamingos are known to breed throughout the year.
- The Female flamingo lays a single egg which hatches after 30 days of incubation.
- They are omnivores feeding on algae, fish and insects.
- They are filter feeders and use their oddly shaped beaks to filter out food and separate mud from food.
- The little hair covering their mouth called lamellae and their rough tongue also help them filter feed.
- They have few predators in humans, wild dogs and crocodiles.
- Eagles are known to prey on flamingo eggs and vulnerable chicks.