Lesser Flamingo

The lesser flamingo is mostly pinkish white, told from the greater flamingo, the only other Old World flamingo, by the much more extensive black on the bill. It stands about 80–90 cm tall, is 90–105 cm long with a similar wingspan, and weighs 1.2–2.7 kg. Like all flamingos it lays a single chalky-white egg on a mound of mud. It occurs in sub-Saharan Africa and western India, with some movement of birds between the two (Wikipedia, general species account).

It feeds primarily on Spirulina, algae that grow only in very alkaline lakes, so groups near water bodies indicate alkaline water unsuitable for irrigation. In 1974 it bred at the Rann of Kutch, but since then only at the Zinzuwadia and Purabcheria salt pans in north-western India. Birds are occasionally reported from farther north, generally as vagrants. SoIB 2023 rates it a Moderate conservation priority, a within-India migrant of wetland with a Moderate range and a current decline of nearly 5% a year (Wikipedia, general species account; SoIB 2023).