Feeding Flamingos Create Underwater Tornado-Like Vortices to Capture Their Prey, Study Finds

Vortex predator: Study reveals the fluid dynamics of flamingo feeding

Flamingos, often pictured standing still with their heads submerged in water, make for a pretty picture. But peep underwater, and you’ll find the tall, elegant pink birds bobbing their heads, chattering their beaks, and creating mini tornados to efficiently guide microscopic prey into their mouths, according to a new study. “Think of spiders, which produce […]

Scientists have figured out why flamingos are such weird eaters

Flamingos look silly when they eat, but new research suggests they're actually being smart.(Image credit: Serhat Cetinkaya)

Flamingos Create Underwater Tornadoes to Suck Up Their Prey

Pink birds spin water tornados to trap prey like underwater spiderwebs

Flamingos Create Water Tornadoes to Capture Their Prey, Scientists Discover

A Chilean flamingo feeds with its head submerged. Credit: Under the same moon / CC BY 2.0 Flamingos may appear calm as they wade through shallow water with their heads submerged, but new research reveals a surprising truth: flamingos use water tornadoes to trap their prey. These swirling motions, created by the birds’ feet and beaks, help them hunt and capture small, fast-moving animals beneath the surface, proving they are far more active feede…

Feeding Flamingos Create Underwater Tornado-Like Vortices to Capture Their Prey, Study Finds

Rather than passively filter-feeding, the birds use their heads, beaks and feet to generate motion in the water that funnels invertebrates into their mouths

Serene, Beautiful — and Deadly: Flamingos Create Water Tornados to Trap Prey - WhoWhatWhy

Serene, Beautiful — and Deadly: Flamingos Create Water Tornados to Trap Prey (Maria) The author writes, “Flamingos standing serenely in a shallow alkaline lake with heads submerged may seem to be placidly feeding, but there’s a lot going on under the surface. Through studies of Chilean flamingos in the Nashville Zoo and analysis of 3D printed models of their feet and L-shaped bills, researchers have documented how the birds use their feet, heads…