Editing James's flamingo (section)

=== Feeding ===
[[File:James Flamingos cropped MC.jpg|left|thumb|Feeding at [[Laguna Hedionda (Nor Lípez)|Laguna Hedionda]], [[Bolivia]].]]
Both  James's and Andean flamingos feed their chicks through an [[esophagus|esophageal]] [[secretion]] that is [[Regurgitation (digestion)|regurgitated]] from the [[crop (anatomy)|crop]] of the [[bird]].<ref>Sabat, P. and Novoa, F.F. "Digestive Constraints and Nutrient Hydrolysis in Nestlings of Two Flamingo Species". ''The Condor''. 103(2), 396.</ref> The difference between the two species lies in the composition of the [[prolactin]] secretion produced by each bird. Both male and female parents are able to feed the chick. Adult flamingos are the most developed [[filter feeder]]s of the birds. Of the species, James's flamingo has the finest filter-feeding apparatus.<ref>Conway, William G. "CARE OF JAMES'S FLAMINGO Phoenicoparrus jamesi Sclater AND THE ANDEAN FLAMINGO Phoenicoparrus andinus R. A. Philippi IN CAPTIVITY". ''International Zoo Yearbook. 5(1)'', 162-164</ref> The flamingo feeds on [[diatom]]s and other [[microscopic]] [[algae]].<ref name="autogenerated1" /> The shape of the bill is deeply keeled. To feed, the flamingos' long legs allow them to walk into the water and swoop their necks down into an S-shape to allow the beak to enter the water. The S-shape is effective because it allows the head to be placed upright and the bottom of the bill to be placed as shallow or as deep as it pleases. Only lowering the [[Anatomical terms of location#Proximal and distal|distal]] end of the bill into the water allows [[nostril]]s to remain above water. The water filled with small organisms floods the bill and filtration process begins. The lakes, from which the flamingo typically feeds, are Andean lakes which are mostly [[fresh water]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birdingaltoandino.com/james.htm|title=Birding Alto Andino|work=birdingaltoandino.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827171902/http://www.birdingaltoandino.com/james.htm|archive-date=2011-08-27}}</ref> but if salt water is encountered, the flamingos have salt glands in their nostrils where excess [[salt]] is secreted. 

The filtering process starts with the [[tongue]], which is very soft and fleshy with channel-like features that direct the food and water to the filtering apparatus. The bill of James's flamingo is the narrowest of its kind. Both the Andean and James's flamingos have deep-keeled [[beak|bills]] where the upper jaw is narrower than the lower. The [[gape]] of the bill is therefore on the [[Dorsal (location)|dorsal]] side of the bill. The bill of James's flamingo is smaller and has a narrower upper jaw. The proximal end of the bill is mostly horizontal, then has a curvature downward and the distal end finishes with a hook-like feature. The inner [[morphology (biology)|morphology]] of the beak is similar to that of the [[lesser flamingo]], where the upper and lower [[jaw]]s contain [[lamella (zoology)|lamellae]] which filter the food. In both the upper and lower jaw, the [[Anatomical terms of location#Proximal and distal|proximal]] portion of the bill contains lamellae that are ridge-like with a curvature and distal end become more like hooks. Marginal and submarginal lamellae are found,  and James's flamingo has the greatest number of both, which also means a smaller intermarginal distance is seen between them. About 21 lamellae per cm are found in this species, which is more than twice the number found in other flamingos. When the upper and lower jaws close together, the lamellae mesh together to allow the bill to be closed fully.<ref>Jenkin, P.M. "The Filter-Feeding and Food of Flamingoes (Phoenicopter)". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. 240(674), 401-493.</ref> The sizes of the diatoms associated with this size filtering apparatus are about 21–60 μm. Diatoms this size are typically found close to the edge of the water; even in colonies of multiple species, James's flamingos typically feed in the region closest to the edge of the water. The birds are able to use their webbed feet to help kick up microscopic algae if not enough are floating in the [[water column]].<ref name="autogenerated1" />