What is the difference between greater and lesser flamingo?

Flamingos can be viewed along the Namibian coast and although they may all look the same there are some important differences between the various species. Some flamingos are shorter, some are tall and their features are identical. read more

Lesser flamingos have a deep red bill, tipped with black, whereas the bill of greater flamingos is light pink, tipped with black The lesser flamingo has faint pink feathers with black primaries and secondaries, and deep crimson legs. read more

The Lesser Flamingo is the smallest Flamingo and has a dark red beak and dark yellow-orange eyes surrounded by a reddish-brown ring and dark bare skin between the eye and beak. The Andean Flamingo and James's Flamingo both have yellow beaks with black tips but the James's Flamingo has bright red skin between the eye and the beak and the Andean Flamingo has a distinctive black triangle patch on its plumage. read more

The clearest difference between this species and the greater flamingo, the only other Old World species of flamingo, is the much more extensive black on the bill. Size is less helpful unless the species are together, since the sexes of each species also differ in height. read more