Lesser flamingos primarily feed on which organisms in shallow waters?

Lesser flamingos primarily feed on which organisms in shallow waters?

• A. Large fish
• B. Insects in mud
• C. Algae and small crustaceans
• D. Seeds

Answer: (C)

Lesser flamingos feed by filtering tiny organisms from very shallow waters, using their uniquely adapted beaks. Their beaks have comb-like structures called lamellae that trap small particles while water is expelled, and they often feed with their heads dipping or upside down in the water. The food they filter out is mainly algae, especially blue-green (cyanobacteria), and small crustaceans that live in these lakes. This combination—tiny, abundant organisms that are easy to strain through their specialized beaks—explains why algae and small crustaceans are their primary diet. Large fish, seeds, or insects in mud don’t align with how they feed or what they eat in these habitats.