The lesser flamingo is a small, deep-pink flamingo of Africa and India. Its huge flocks turn soda lakes pink and create one of the most spectacular bird gatherings on Earth.
Interesting facts
- It is the smallest but most numerous flamingo.
- Its pink colour comes from pigments in the algae it eats.
- It feeds with its head upside down, filtering algae with its bill.
- Huge flocks gather on lakes such as Bogoria and Nakuru in Kenya.
- Rising water levels in some Rift Valley lakes have reduced their food.
- Lesser flamingos also gather in Mumbai’s Thane Creek.
Behaviour
Lesser flamingos move between lakes in search of food, often flying at night. They feed together in dense flocks and perform synchronised group displays.
Breeding and young
Pairs build mud nests on soda flats and lay a single egg. Chicks gather in huge crèches and walk long distances to find water.
Threats and conservation
Dependence on very few breeding sites, soda-ash mining and development proposals at Lake Natron, pollution, and changes in lake water levels.
Where to see it
- Lake Bogoria, Kenya
- Lake Natron, Tanzania
- Kamfers Dam, Kimberley, South Africa
- Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary, Mumbai, India
Status source: IUCN Red List. Profile last reviewed September 2026.
Lake Nakuru and the Rift Valley Lakes: Flamingos and Rhinos
