—territorial n the breeding season

— nest in a large variety of situations

—found mostly in the Nile Valley and south of the Sahara

— filter-feed on brine shrimp

— beaks adapted to separate mud and silt from the food

— shellfish, shrimps flamingos eat gives distinctive pink colour

— they stand on one leg - maybe to conserve body heat and energy

— flocks often fly in lines

— nests colonially in trees, often with herons

—unlike herons, ibises fly with necks outstretched

— stamp as they walk, flushing insects to eat

—live in pairs or family parties, building up to flocks of over 100

— their dances have provided models for the dances of local tribes

> characteristics<

— short legs

— large heads

— stubby tails

—long, sharp, pointed bills

—there are about 90 species of kingfisher worldwide

— no food then eat rubbish

— introduced in southern Europe - started to take over

— formerly found in Egypt, where venerated as a symbol of the god Thoth