Home >> Science & Nature >> Nature

The Ecosystem of a Flamingo

Phoenicopteridae is the Latin name for the group of water birds we know more commonly as flamingos. Species of this distinctive bird are found in Africa, Asia, Central America, Europe, North America and South America. Flamingos can fly and they can also dive for food, putting their tails in the air like ducks.

Habitat
- Flamingos live near large, shallow lakes or lagoons. They can live near the sea or far inland. With their long legs, they can easily wade into the water to feed on algae and small crustaceans.
Birds of a Feather
- Flamingos are social creatures, living in groups as large as tens of thousands. Because the flamingo's muddy-water habitat is inhospitable to most types of vegetation, there are no other animals or birds that thrive where the flamingo does. Thus, the flamingo has few natural predators.
Nests
- Flamingos live where weather is warm. They build nests of mud near the water's edge. The mud walls keep the eggs safe from occasional flooding. They also keep the eggs cool in heat that can sometimes be intense.

Nature