(american flamingo included) |
|||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[Image:Greater_Flamingo.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|christ34|christ34}}<br>Photo taken: Camargue, [[France]].]] | [[Image:Greater_Flamingo.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|christ34|christ34}}<br>Photo taken: Camargue, [[France]].]] | ||
;[[:Category:Phoenicopterus|Phoenicopterus]] ruber | ;[[:Category:Phoenicopterus|Phoenicopterus]] ruber | ||
| − | '''Includes | + | '''Includes American or Carribean Flamingo''' |
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
Length 120-145cm<br /> | Length 120-145cm<br /> | ||
| Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
*Red wing coverts | *Red wing coverts | ||
*Black flight feathers | *Black flight feathers | ||
| − | *Decurved bill | + | *Decurved bill with black tip, red-orange in middle and pale yellow near eye in nominate, dark pink in ''roseus'' |
*Legs pink and extremely long<br /> | *Legs pink and extremely long<br /> | ||
'''Juvenile'''<br /> | '''Juvenile'''<br /> | ||
Grey-brown with whitish underparts | Grey-brown with whitish underparts | ||
====Similar Species==== | ====Similar Species==== | ||
| − | [[Chilean Flamingo]] has grey legs with pink knees. | + | [[Chilean Flamingo]] has grey legs with pink knees. [[Lesser Flamingo]] is smaller, has a dark bill and a dark red eye. |
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | + | [[Image:Caribbean_Flamingo.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Carribean Flamingo<br />Photo by {{user|Momo|Momo}} <br />Locality: Isla Floreana, [[Galapagos]], [[Ecuador]]]] | |
| + | Locally from Caribbean to northeast Brazil and the Galapagos Islands. Also in southern [[Europe]] and Mediterranean basin to [[South Africa]] and [[India|Indian]] subcontinent. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | [[ | + | Two subspecies accepted: |
| − | + | * ''P. r. ruber'' in the [[America]]s | |
| − | + | * ''P. r. roseus'' in [[Europe]], [[Africa]] and [[Asia]] | |
| − | + | Some authorities split them up in two species, Caribbean or American Flamingo (P. ruber) and Greater Flamingo (P. roseus). | |
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Salt pans and large bodies of shallow water, inland and coastal; saline and brackish waters preferred. | Salt pans and large bodies of shallow water, inland and coastal; saline and brackish waters preferred. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
Highly gregarious | Highly gregarious | ||
| + | ====Breeding==== | ||
| + | [[Image:Forum5.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|swarovskiuser|swarovskiuser}}<br />Lesvos, [[Greece]], May 2008]] | ||
| + | Breed in large colonies in nests that consists of mud compacted into a mound on top of which the nest of mud and twigs is situated, this is built by both sexes. 1 white egg is laid, and incubated by both parents for 27-31 days. | ||
| + | ====Diet==== | ||
| + | The diet includes small crustaceans, molluscs, and insects. | ||
====Vocalisation==== | ====Vocalisation==== | ||
Loud cackles (reminiscent of [[Greylag Goose]]) | Loud cackles (reminiscent of [[Greylag Goose]]) | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref- | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thDec09}}#Collins Field Guide 5th Edition |
#Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6 | #Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6 | ||
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
Revision as of 14:49, 25 November 2010
- Phoenicopterus ruber
Includes American or Carribean Flamingo
Identification
Length 120-145cm
Wing span 140-170cm
Adult
- White, tinged pink
- Red wing coverts
- Black flight feathers
- Decurved bill with black tip, red-orange in middle and pale yellow near eye in nominate, dark pink in roseus
- Legs pink and extremely long
Juvenile
Grey-brown with whitish underparts
Similar Species
Chilean Flamingo has grey legs with pink knees. Lesser Flamingo is smaller, has a dark bill and a dark red eye.
Distribution
Locally from Caribbean to northeast Brazil and the Galapagos Islands. Also in southern Europe and Mediterranean basin to South Africa and Indian subcontinent.
Taxonomy
Two subspecies accepted:
Some authorities split them up in two species, Caribbean or American Flamingo (P. ruber) and Greater Flamingo (P. roseus).
Habitat
Salt pans and large bodies of shallow water, inland and coastal; saline and brackish waters preferred.
Behaviour
Highly gregarious
Breeding
Breed in large colonies in nests that consists of mud compacted into a mound on top of which the nest of mud and twigs is situated, this is built by both sexes. 1 white egg is laid, and incubated by both parents for 27-31 days.
Diet
The diet includes small crustaceans, molluscs, and insects.
Vocalisation
Loud cackles (reminiscent of Greylag Goose)
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
- Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Greater Flamingo. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 18 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Greater_Flamingo
External Links
