Flamingo feeds in an unusual manner to extract shrimp from mud

Galapagos Flamingos are wading birds that can be seen feeding in the shallows and mud flats around alkaline or saline lakes. Flamingos are found in tropical and subtropical areas. They have long legs and a long, curved neck.
Galapagos Flamingos reside in the salt-water lagoons hidden in the lava fields behind the coast of the Galapagos Islands. These beautiful birds have a unique bill that allows them to filter the mud and extract the brine shrimp, their primary diet.
Their beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume. They use their bills in a uniquely used upside-down manner. They filter the mud using hairy structures called lamellae which line the mandibles and the tongue. Flamingos also feed on small crustaceans.
The Galapagos Flamingo reaches 140 centimetres (4.5 feet) in length. Males can weigh up to 2.8 kilograms and females are slightly smaller at 2.2 kilograms. Most of their plumage is pink. Their colour is more vivid than that of the European species. Flamingo calls resemble the honking of a goose.
These majestic birds are a beautiful sight to see, especially when they gather in large flocks.