Lesser Flamingo

Scientific Name: Phoeniconaias minor

Population Estimate: 2.2-3.2M, Near Threatened status

Range / Habitat: Brackish areas both costal and inland in southern Africa (primarily in Great Rift Valley) and Madagascar, occasionally further north.

Field Notes: Size reportedly overlaps with Greater Flamingo, range may be distinct. Regardless, Lesser Flamingo is overall more pink with black base to bill and pink tip.

Personal Notes: Seen at Minnesota Zoo and then at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Chilean Flamingo

Scientific Name: Phoenicopterus Chilensis

Population Estimate: 200K

Range / Habitat: It breeds in temperate South America from Ecuador and Peru to Chile and Argentina and east to Brazil; it has been introduced into Germany and the Netherlands.

Field Notes: The plumage is pinker than the slightly larger Greater Flamingo, but less so than Caribbean Flamingo. It can be differentiated from these species by its greyish legs with pink "knees", and also by the larger amount of black on the bill (more than half). Young chicks may have no sign of pink coloring whatsoever, but instead remain grey.

Personal Notes:

Greater Flamingo

Scientific Name: Phoenicopterus roseus

Population Estimate: 550K - 680K

Range / Habitat: Shallow saline areas throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. The most widely distributed of the six flamingo species.

Field Notes: Large flamingo, the most pale of the six species. Older flamingos are more pink, younger flamingos are more grey / white. Pink bill with black at the tip; Lesser Flamingo has black base to the bill and pink tip.

Personal Notes: The bottom photo is from the Po River Delta. This group comes from all over Europe to winter here. Once they arrive they separate by age. When you see the whole group together there is a remarkable gradation in the group from grey to pink. Top photos are from Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge.