- Phoenicopterus roseus
Identification
Length 120-145cm (47¼-57 in)
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 in southern Europe and Mediterranean basin to South Africa and Indian subcontinent.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
Was formerly considered conspecific with American Flamingo.
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, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
- Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Greater Flamingo. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 21 January 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Greater_Flamingo
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
