What to Know About the Lesser Flamingo in Uganda?

The Lesser Flamingo in Uganda is one of the African Uganda Birds seen during Uganda birding safaris.

The Lesser Flamingo is a widely spread bird species which is predominantly found within the Southern region of Africa. Biominally this bird species is referred to us Phoenicopterus minor which is found inhabiting areas of South Africa, Yemen in the North, Coast of Guinea and Senegal in the west.  This bird species is found also breeding within the Isolated small regions of African countries that include Kenya mainly found in four alkaline lakes that include Lake Elmenteita, Lake Nakuru, Lake Natron and Lake Bogoria. In Tanzania is found within Lake Natron, Botswana, Zambia, Mauritana, Namibia and Senegal. It is also seen inhabiting the Asian continent and found in countries like India and Pakistan.

Physical description of the Lesser Flamingo

This bird species is characterized with an S-shaped curved long neck which is as a result of the lesser flamingo laying the head over its back while resting. It bares thin legs that are pinkish in colour. Lesser Flamingo is the smallest bird species of the Phoenicopteridae or Flamingo family measuring between 90 to 125 centimeters in height.

The bird species features fully webbed feet that do bare a three-clawed digit impression that measures in width 11 centimeters and having a length of 9 centimeters. It is also characterized with pale pinkish and red layer of feathers baring secondary and primary black wing feathers.

Lesser Flamingo has a large and broad wing span measuring from 1.0 to 1.1 meters long and it also features a unique angular shaped and deep keeled bill that is specialized for its diet though the upper mandible is only visible at the tip and above the bend. The bill is dark red coloured which when seen at a distance appears to be blackish in colour.

The bird species features a golden coloured eyes baring a purple eye ring. Adult Lesser Flamingo is slightly larger than the adult female bird species. The male lesser flamingo species has a mass weight of about 1,798 grams and the adult female species measuring about 1,529 grams on average.

The behavior of the Lesser Flamingo

This flamingo species is a social bird which usually lives in large colonies or flocks for proctetion purposes with the aim of keeping away from its predators and an alert posing display will be performed if an individual bird species senses nearby danger. While performing the dispaly, lesser flamingo stretches its neck until it is straight or vertically positioned and food is shared throughout the flock from the foragers or food searchers.

The Lesser Flamingo is a colonial breeder bird and it performs displays in large groups from where the adult male species initiate them hence being able to attract the breeding female partners.

During the breeding season, the lesser flamingo performs a number of displays that include the head bobbing, ritual bickering, head wagging and the broken neck posture display which do last for days and sometimes even weeks.

Lesser Flamingo is a filter feeder which spends most of its time feeding and is mostly active at dusk and dawn.  The bird species has the longest feeding period when diatoms are plentiful during the wet season and it filters planktonic organisms with its shaped bill from water. Feeding is done in this time to avoid predation hence meeting its overnight energy requirements.

The bird mainly feeds on the microscopic alkaliphilic cyanbacteria voronichin Arthrospira fusiformis which bares the high percentage of proteins and levels of lipids and carbohydrates. It also feeds on synechocystis minuscula, synechococcus pevalekii, monoraphidium minutum and synechococcus elongatus that are algae dieties.

Reproduction process of the Lesser Flamingo

During the redprodution process, the breeding male flamingo species do perform and initiate ritualized group displays to attract female partners which occurs year round. Breeding is done in large colonies of about 500 to 1,000 birds and do occur between October and February hence breeding is done every 5 to 8 years.

The adult female lesser flamingo lay a maximum two elongated Oval and pale bluish eggs with a chalky thick outer layer. Both parents take part in the incubation of the laid eggs which lasts for a period of 28 to 31 days. In a period of three weeks after hatching process, the chicks weigh about 50 grams and develop their own flocks known as creches.

Younger ones do develop wing feathers that are broad and large enough for flight to occur at 75 days after hatching. They become fully independent at about 90 days after hatching and sexual maturity is developed at around 3 to 4 years of age.

Habitat

The nesting habitats of lesser flamingos includes areas in very shallow water so they can construct their nests out of the wet mud found in the area. The water typically measures less than one meter deep. Their regular breeding sites are located on the soda mudflats of Lake Natron in Tanzania and the pink crystalline soda palates.