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U.S.A."],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,27]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Flamingos feature one of the most sophisticated filter-feeding systems among birds, characterized by upside-down feeding, comb-like lamellae, and a piston-like tongue. However, the hydrodynamic functions of their L-shaped chattering beak, S-curved neck, and distinct behaviors such as stomping and feeding against the flow remain a mystery. Combining live flamingo experiments with live brine shrimp and passive particles, bioinspired physical models, and 3D CFD simulations, we show that flamingos generate self-induced vortical traps using their heads, beaks, and feet to capture agile planktonic prey in harsh fluid environments. When retracting their heads rapidly (~40 cm\/s), flamingos generate tornado-like vortices that stir up and upwell bottom sediments and live shrimp aided by their L-shaped beak. Remarkably, they also induce directional flows (~7 cm\/s) through asymmetric beak chattering underwater (~12 Hz). Their morphing feet create horizontal eddies during stomping, lifting, and concentrating sediments and brine shrimp, while trapping fast-swimming invertebrates, as confirmed by using a 3D-printed morphing foot model. During interfacial skimming, flamingos produce a vortical recirculation zone at the beak\u2019s tip, aiding in prey capture. Experiments using a flamingo-inspired particle collection system indicate that beak chattering improves capture rates by ~7\u00d7. These findings offer design principles for bioinspired particle collection systems that may be applied to remove pollutants and harmful microorganisms from water bodies.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.2503495122","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,12]],"date-time":"2025-05-12T15:00:51Z","timestamp":1747062051000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1073\/pnas.cm10313","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Flamingos use their L-shaped beak and morphing feet to induce vortical traps for prey capture"],"prefix":"10.1073","volume":"122","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0024-5086","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Victor M.","family":"Ortega-Jimenez","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Integrative Biology, University of California","place":["Berkeley"]},{"name":"School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine","place":["Orono"]},{"name":"School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology","place":["Atlanta"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tien","family":"Yee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Kennesaw State University","place":["Marietta"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1918-9902","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Pankaj","family":"Rohilla","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology","place":["Atlanta"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Benjamin","family":"Seleb","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Quantitative Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology","place":["Atlanta"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jake","family":"Belair","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Nashville Zoo","place":["Nashville"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9788-9920","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Saad","family":"Bhamla","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology","place":["Atlanta"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"341","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_3_4_1_2","first-page":"401","article-title":"The filter feeding and food of flamingoes (Phoenicopteri)","volume":"240","author":"Jenkin P. 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