Winter Wildlife: Top Places To Spot Flamingoes In India

India plays host to a majestic pink spectacle every winter when greater flamingoes migrate into its territory. This particular species (Phoenicopterus roseus) is the most widespread and largest in the flamingo family. Most of their plumage is pinkish-white, but the wing coverts are red and the primary and secondary flight feathers are black. India also has a resident population of around 650,000 lesser flamingoes (Phoeniconaias minor), which are mostly found in the salt deserts of Gujarat. These are the smallest species of flamingo, and according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), they are classified as near threatened due to their declining population and the low number of breeding sites, some of which are threatened by human activities.