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Phoenicopterus roseus
The other 'star' bird of the Ebro Delta is the Greater Flamingo, and there were plenty around, in small groups and family parties.
This juvenile has not yet gained the pinkish bill - I imagine this is a 1st summer bird ?
Distributed from Africa and southern Europe through West Asia to South Asia. Very large, with long, "coat hanger" neck, big kinked bill, and very long pinkish legs. Plumage at rest whitish with pale pink blush and some deep pink often visible on closed wings. Flies with long neck and legs extended, when deep pink-and-black wing pattern striking. eBird
Located in the Tsim Sha Tsui area of Hong Kong, Kowloon Park is a peaceful, green oasis right in the heart of this incredibly busy part of the city. It covers an area of just under 33 acres, with a varied landscape connected by pathways snaking through preened shrubs and ancient banyan trees. A flock of about 40 to 50 flamingos (greater and lesser admixed) like to gather at the shallow of the Bird Lake.
Flamingo diet largely consists of crustaceans and algae, which are rich in carotenoids. This pigment gives flamingos the hot pink or reddish coloration they are known for.
This is the largest species of flamingo, averaging 110–150 cm (43–59 in) tall and weighing 2–4 kg (4.4–8.8 lb). The largest male flamingos have been recorded at up to 187 cm (74 in) tall and 4.5 kg (9.9 lb). It is closely related to the American flamingo and Chilean flamingo, with which it has sometimes been considered conspecific.
Like all flamingos, this species lays a single chalky-white egg on a mud mound. Most of the plumage is pinkish white, but the wing coverts are red and the primary and secondary flight feathers are black. The bill is pink with a restricted black tip, and the legs are entirely pink. The call is a goose-like honking.
Sub-adult flamingos are whitish grey and only attain the pink coloration several years into their adult life. The coloration comes from the carotenoid pigments in the organisms that live in their feeding grounds. Secretions of the uropygial gland also contain carotenoids. During the breeding season, greater flamingos increase the frequency of their spreading uropygial secretions over their feathers and thereby enhance their color. This cosmetic use of uropygial secretions has been described as applying "make-up".
The bird resides in mudflats and shallow coastal lagoons with salt water. Using its feet, the bird stirs up the mud, then sucks water through its bill and filters out small shrimp, seeds, blue-green algae, microscopic organisms and mollusks. The greater flamingo feeds with its head down and its upper jaw is movable and not rigidly fixed to its skull.
Its a tussle to capture these majestic birds in flight. Many times I had them out of vision through my lens while clicking the take off...they wouldn't fit into my field at times and I had to struggle with adjusting my lens and the rocking boat. its indeed all worth to watch these graceful birds take off only then I realized how powerful wings these birds have been gifted with .
At the back waters of Bhigwan
Greater flamingos-Phoenicopterus roseus caught at sunset, when they leave their colony towards their night feeding marsh.
Breeding birds fly into and out of the colony at dawn and dusk, either to relieve the incubating partner or to feed the young, and some feeding activity takes place throughout the day.
The non-breeding birds, which are not constrained to visit the colony, feed almost exclusively at night and roost during the daytime. In the evening at sunset these birds fly 1-5 km (0.5-3 miles) to lagoons with a higher salinity. where a specific brine shrimp species is the only prey available. The reason for the night feeding is thought to hang together with the increased activity of the shrimp at night.
For more information, please consult "The daily cycle of feeding activity of the Greater Flamingo", by Robert H. Britton
The Greater Flamingo is the largest of all species. The coloring of them is the main difference for telling them apart. One is very bright red in color and lives along the coast of the West Indies and even into Florida. Those with the pinker coloring are found residing in Africa and East India. This particular species of Flamingo has the most diversified habitat in the wild of all of them.
During the colder times of the year, many of the Great Flamingos in Asia migrate to warmer climates. They generally end up in either Iran or India. They won’t migrate though until the weather turns bad so when the season is a mild one they may not end up migrating at all. Due to global warming their migration patterns seem to be getting shorter and shorter.
Anatomy
The male Great Flamingos can be up to 61 inches tall which is more than many humans. They only weigh about 8 pounds which is extremely light for an animal that is so tall! Their feathers range in color from dark pink to bright red. They also have areas of white blending in with them. While in flight you will be able to see areas of black underneath as well.
They tend to enjoy locations where there is plenty of salt to be found in the water. Many people don’t realize just how well this species of Flamingo is able to swim. That is because they tend to stick to swamps and lagoons that aren’t very deep. They will stand in the thick mud and find plenty of food there to be able to survive on without having to venture into deeper waters. They will stomp their feet in the mud to help stir up the accessible food in the area.
Photo by Charlotte Blanchet – Lotus Blanc