Flamingo

Flamingos are among the most striking birds on Earth: long-legged, long-necked, and coloured in shades of pink and crimson from carotenoid pigments in the algae and crustaceans they eat. They feed by upside-down filtering — sweeping their bent bills through shallow water to strain tiny organisms.

Flamingos nest in huge colonies on mud flats, building cone-shaped mounds that keep eggs above water. Their group displays — synchronized head-flagging and wing salutes — are among the most spectacular sights in wetland birding.

Shallow saline lakes, lagoons, and coastal flats worldwide hold flamingos — from Lake Nakuru in Kenya to the Camargue in France and Caribbean lagoons. They need open water for feeding and isolated islands or flats for safe nesting.