Predators of the Flamingo

The flamingo is a type of wading bird, found in parts of South America, Africa, Southeast Asia and Southern Europe. Flamingos tend to inhabit somewhat remote and inhospitable environments, making predation difficult and uncommon. In addition, flamingos live in large groups, making the threat of attack even more unlikely. However, there are a few species of more industrious carnivores that manage to prey upon flamingos and their eggs.

  1. Large Birds

    • Flamingos spend most of their time out on lakes, swamps, lagoons, etc., making predation by land animals quite difficult. However, since other large birds can easily fly to the flamingos' territory, they are the most common predators of these pink birds. Various vulture species, including the lappet-faced vulture, Egyptian vulture and white-headed vulture have been known to feed on flamingo eggs, as well as young flamingos that have strayed from the protection of their parents. Two other bird species that prey upon flamingo chicks and eggs are the tawny eagle and the Marabou stork.

    Humans

    • Historically, humans, with our ingenuity and ability to use tools, have been the most dangerous threat to flamingo populations. While the popularity of flamingo eggs as a food source has decreased substantially over the years, even being outlawed by some countries, humans still eat these large eggs as both a delicacy and primary food source in different parts of the world. In the Andes Mountains, flamingos are sometimes killed for their fat, believed by some to be a remedy/cure for tuberculosis. The ancient Romans also hunted and killed flamingos for their tongues, which were prepared as a culinary delicacy. In addition to using flamingos and their eggs as a food source, humans, while not technically preying upon flamingos, have killed masses of this pink bird through habitat destruction.

    Big Cats

    • Some big cats, primarily in Africa, have been known to occasionally prey upon flamingos. However, big cats do not easily stalk and surprise their prey from the water. Therefore, nearly all big cat flamingo kills occur only during low water periods, periods of drought, or when water has been diverted by human activity. Cheetahs, leopards and lions are the most common big cat predators of flamingos.

    Other Predators

    • When water levels are low, or when flamingos have been displaced by habitat destruction, some smaller land animals have been known to occasionally prey upon flamingos and their eggs. These predators include feral pigs, foxes, small wildcats, hyenas, coyotes, minks, jackals, raccoons and wild dogs. Pythons have also been known to sometimes attack flamingos.