The ability to fly will always remain one of the most fascinating things about birds—especially when you examine that of a Greater Flamingo!
- A Greater Flamingo in flight
Even though the bird requires a running start in order to become airborne, it is miraculous how such a seemingly disproportionate body glides though the air with such grace and ease. In addition to being breathtakingly beautiful, wearing hues of a color I can only describe as “Flamingo Pink,” this incredible bird is great fun to watch, too!
- A Greater Flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus
Common Name: Greater Flamingo
Latin Name: Phoenicopterus roseus or Phoenicopterus ruber roseus
Range: Africa, southern Europe and southern Asia.
Habitat: Estuaries, saltwater and alkaline lakes, mudflats, coastlines and lagoons
Diet: Small mollusks, shrimp, plankton, insects and small fish
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Flamingos here, flamingos there, flamingos everywhere!
- The Greater Flamingo is the largest, palest, and most widespread of all the flamingo species.
- A fourteen day old Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)
- A flock of flamingos is called a “stand” or ”flamboyance.”
- A flamboyance of flamingoes – Rio Maximo, Camaguey, Cuba.
- The gorgeous hues of the Greater Flamingo are obtained by consuming a diet high in alpha and beta carotenoid pigments.
- A close-up view of a particularly colorful Greater Flamingo
- The backward bending ‘knees” of a flamingo’s long and stilt-like legs are actually the ankles. The actual knee is closer to the bird’s body and is hidden by its plumage.
- Legs, necks and a single head of greater flamingoes (Phoenicopterus roseus) standing in muddy water feeding
The Flamingo in history…
The plastic, pink flamingo has become one of the most popular lawn decorations in the United States since its creation in 1957. An icon of pop culture, its creator, Don Featherstone, even won an IG Nobel Prize for his creation…
- Pink Flamingo Lawn Ornaments by Don Featherstone
If you’d like to read more about our birding adventures and flamingo sightings, take a look at our Flamingoes Over Tuscany post!
Happy Birding!
