Animal
Greater flamingo
Shallow water supplies food, while mud becomes material for a nest.
Langue du contenu
The greater flamingo is associated with shallow water. It lives around lagoons, lakes, river mouths and muddy shores in Africa, Asia and Europe. These places provide the small organisms it eats: algae, crustaceans, insect larvae and molluscs. Productive shallows are particularly important for a large gathering of birds.
This is a highly social species. Flamingos move in groups that sometimes number thousands. They seek places capable of feeding the whole flock. They communicate through calls and visible body movements, and group courtship displays begin the breeding season. Shared behaviour matters both when travelling and when preparing to breed.
A pair builds a mud nest, shaping it into a mound. The sun hardens its surface, while a small hollow at the top holds the egg. Both male and female incubate it. Material beneath the birds' feet thus becomes a nesting structure without the need to collect branches.
The chick remains in its parents' care for around 65-90 days. Greater flamingos breed once a year. Watching a colony therefore involves several different activities: finding tiny food items, communicating and caring for the next generation.
Pour les enfants
A flamingo finds food in shallow water. It eats small organisms such as crustaceans and insect larvae, as well as algae. It lives in Africa, Asia and Europe.
Flamingos like company. They travel in large groups, searching together for places with enough food. They communicate with calls and body movements.
Their nest is made of mud. A pair builds a mound that hardens in the sun. A hollow at the top holds an egg. Mother and father share the job of incubating it. Once the chick hatches, they care for it for many weeks. A muddy shore therefore provides both food and building material for a flamingo's nest.
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