Flamingo
Phoenicopterus roseus
Quick answer
The flamingo is a tall wading bird famous for its vivid pink plumage, long legs, and habit of standing on one leg. Its color comes from pigments in the algae and brine shrimp it eats, filtered from the water with a specially shaped, upside-down bill. Flamingos live in large flocks in shallow lakes and lagoons, and some can reach 40 years or more.
Flamingo facts at a glance
| Scientific name | Phoenicopterus roseus |
|---|---|
| Diet | Filter feeder (algae and brine shrimp) |
| Habitat | Shallow lakes, lagoons, and estuaries |
| Lifespan | 20–40+ years |
| Height | 1.1–1.5 m (3.6–5 ft) |
| Top speed | Up to 60 km/h (37 mph) in flight |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Phoenicopteriformes |
| Family | Phoenicopteridae |
| Genus | Phoenicopterus |
Where it lives
Shallow lakes and lagoons across Africa, southern Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
Why flamingos are pink
Flamingos are not born pink; chicks hatch grey. Their famous color comes from pigments called carotenoids in the algae and tiny crustaceans they eat, which their bodies process and deposit in the feathers. A flamingo's exact shade reflects its diet, and the pinkest birds are often the best fed and most attractive mates.
Upside-down feeding
A flamingo feeds with its head upside down in the water, sweeping its uniquely shaped bill from side to side. Comb-like plates called lamellae filter algae, brine shrimp, and tiny organisms from the mud and water, much like a baleen whale, while pumping out the excess water.
Standing on one leg
Flamingos often rest on a single leg, even while asleep. Research suggests this posture is remarkably stable and requires almost no muscular effort, and tucking one leg up against the body may help conserve heat in cold water. They can hold the pose effortlessly for long periods.
Flock life
Flamingos are intensely social, gathering in colonies that can number tens of thousands. Large flocks, fittingly called a flamboyance, perform synchronized group displays before breeding. Nesting on mud mounds, both parents feed the chick a nutritious 'crop milk' produced in the throat.
Frequently asked questions about the Flamingo
Why are flamingos pink?
Flamingos get their pink color from carotenoid pigments in the algae and brine shrimp they eat. Chicks are born grey and gradually turn pink as their diet builds up the pigment in their feathers.
Why do flamingos stand on one leg?
Standing on one leg is thought to be highly stable and energy-efficient for flamingos, and tucking the other leg against the body may help them conserve body heat while standing in cool water.
What do flamingos eat?
Flamingos are filter feeders. They eat algae, brine shrimp, and other tiny organisms, straining them from the water and mud with comb-like structures in their specially shaped, downturned bills.
How long do flamingos live?
Flamingos are long-lived birds, commonly reaching 20 to 30 years in the wild and even longer in captivity, with some individuals recorded at over 40 and even into their 70s.
What is a group of flamingos called?
A group of flamingos is called a flamboyance. These colonies can number in the tens of thousands and perform striking synchronized displays before breeding.
