Fauna
Bird

Greater Flamingo

Phoenicopterus roseus

Greater Flamingos are towering pale birds with long pink legs, kinked bills, and black flight feathers hidden at rest. Flocks sweep their specialized bills through shallow saline water to filter tiny organisms and suspended food.

Colonial WaterbirdFilter FeederSaline Wetland
Greater Flamingo reference1 / 7
"Greater Flamingo" by btrentler is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyBrine shrimp, Aquatic insect larvae, Small crustaceans
Predators
  • Jackals
  • Large gulls
  • Eagles
ThreatsWetland alteration, water extraction, pollution, collision with power lines, and colony disturbance
HabitatsSalt lakes, coastal lagoons, estuaries, mudflats, and shallow saline marshes
Life spanOften 30 to 40 years, with some birds living longer
Classification
  1. OrderPhoenicopteriformes
  2. FamilyPhoenicopteridae
  3. GenusPhoenicopterus
  4. SpeciesPhoenicopterus roseus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Use distant optics and never make a feeding or nesting flock take flight.
Responsible observation
  • Feeding: Watch the inverted bill sweep while the head remains underwater.
  • Flight: Look for black wing feathers contrasting with the pale body.
Related species

Related species have not been added yet.

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Found in Collections

Ecosystem chain

Wetland Territory

Greater Flamingo is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.

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