Last updated on July 31st2024
The very word flamingo brings to mind those flock of tallslender birds with extremely long and curvy S-shaped neckscurved beaks and delightfully pink feathersoften wading through shallow waters on their long legs or simply standing on one leg. The graceful shape of the birds has encouraged many artists and photographers to capture their forms either in paint or filmthus making them familiar to us.
Howeverexactly how much do we know about flamingos and their habitatssocial behaviordifferent speciesetc.? Flamingos are actually one of the most delightfully interesting animals with many unique traits and abilities. Sowe chose to take a deep dive and gather some of the most interesting and curious flamingo facts that will only endear you more to these wonderful animals.
Facts about Flamingos
1. Origin of the name
The etymology of the word ‘flamingo’ is not established. Some believe it came from the Spanish word flamenco (noting the similarities between flamenco rhythm and the synchronized and rhythmic behavior of flamingos when they are in flight). According to another campthe word is derived from the Portuguese word ‘falameng’ (meaning ‘flame-colored’).
2. Out of 6 species1 is considered vulnerable
In allthere are six different species of flamingos: AndeanChileanPunaLesserGreaterand Caribbean or American flamingos. Among theseonly the Andean flamingos are listed as “vulnerable”. Currentlythere are only about 40,000 bird left of this species.
3. Migratory Birds
Some flamingo species migrate great distances between breeding and feeding grounds.
4. The smallest species of flamingos
The smallest species of all flamingos is the lesser flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor). Lesser flamingos prefer highly alkaline or saline lakes and estuarieswhere they feed primarily on blue-green algae and other microscopic organisms. Their unique filter-feeding system allows them to thrive in these environmentswhich are often too harsh for many other species. They are predominantly found in East AfricaSouthern Africa (Botswana and Namibia)West Africa (Mauritania and Senegal) and South Asia (India and Pakistan).
5. The largest species of flamingos
The largest species of all flamingos is the greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus). Greater flamingos prefer shallow coastal lagoons, estuariesmudflatsand inland lakes where they can feed on a diet of algaesmall crustaceansand other invertebrates. They are widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africasouthern Europe (SpainFranceItalyand Greece)Indian subcontinentMiddle East and western Asia (Iran and Kazakhstan).
6. Lifespan
Flamingos live longer than most wading birds including egretspelicans and more. The average lifespan of a flamingo in the wild is 20-30 years whereas those living in controlled captivity (zoosaviaries etc.) can often live well beyond 50 years.
7. The oldest Flamingo in captivity
Greater, a flamingo living in the Adelaide Zoo in Australia, is the oldest living flamingo on record. The bird was 83 when it was euthanized by the zoo authorities as it was nearly blind by then and was suffering badly from acute arthritis.
8. A group of flamingos is called…
Did we say ‘flock’ there? Actuallythere is a more fancy word for a group of flamingoesnamely ‘flamboyance!’ Howeveryou’ll also hear them referred to as spatsstands, or colonies of flamingos.
9. Very light weighted birds
Flamingos have extremely low body density. A fully-grown 4 to 5 ft. tall bird will weigh between 4 and 8 lbs only. The light weight coupled with the birds’ unique body proportions helps them fly long distances.
10. They are fast flyers
Talking about flyingthese lanky birds can fly up to 500-600 km at a speed of 50-60 mph. They are also able to scale great heights (10,000– 15,000 ft) while flying.
11. They can actually run on water!
Flamingos can “run” on the water! Wellactuallythe birdswith the help of their flippersrun a short distance swiftly over the surface of water before taking to flight.
12. Built-in Sunglasses
Flamingos have a special membrane that can cover their eyes to protect them from bright sunlight and glare.
13. They can sleep standing on one leg
We know that flamingosducks and many other water birds can stand for long stretches of time on one leg. Flamingoshowevercan actually sleep while standing on one leg!
14. But why stand on one leg?
We mentioned the flamingo habit of standing on one leg. But why do they do that? Scientists are not entirely sure of it. Some informed hypotheses include preservation of muscle power and/or minimizing the loss of body heat.
15. They can’t bend their knees backwards
And talking of flamingo physiologywe may note here that contrary to what we ‘appear’ to seeflamingos don’t (and can’t) bend their knees backwards. It is actually their extremely long ankles that we mistake as knees.
16. Group Living
Like most wetland birdsflamingos are extremely social in nature and are often found in flocks of hundreds and even thousands. Living in large colonies protects them from predators.
17. They are socially more active in spring and summer
It is also found that social interactions (in addition to mating) among flamingos increase during the spring and summer months.
18. Flamingos Form Friendships and Avoidances Within Large Colonies
In factrecent findings reveal that a nuanced societal structure exists among flamingos even when they are living as part of large colonies. For examplesome birds often form close bonds of friendship with certain chosen individuals from a large flock while stubbornly avoiding certain others!
19. Synchronized Dancing
Flamingos perform elaborate group courtship dances that look like synchronized swimmingwith intricate moves and head bobbing.
20. They search their food in shallow water
Flamingos forage for their food in mud and shallow waters. Blue-green algaesmall insectsinsects’ larvaeand especially mollusksshrimpsand other crustaceans list among their favorite grub.
21. LegsNeck and Feet during food hunt
Their long legs allow them to wade into deeper waters where they can find more food. Their long necks also help to explore underwater. The large webbed feet help them to stir up mud in the water to uncover food.
22. Up-Side-Down Eating
Flamingos feed with their heads upside down in the waterfiltering food through their beaks.
23. Flexible Beaks
Flamingo beaks are specially adapted to filter out food from the waterand they can bend in ways most birds’ beaks can’t. Like many great whales and sharksflamingos are actually filter feeders. The tongues and the beaks of these birds are lined with a hair-like structure called lamellae that does the job of filtering out slit and mud from their food.
24. Their food gives them the pinkish hue
In factthe delightfully pink and reddish hues of flamingo feathers actually happen to be a result of the food they eat. The large concentration of carotenoids in algae and crustaceans are responsible for coloring the flamingo feathers.
25. Unique Mating Rituals in Flamingos
Unlike most other birds (and other animals)mating rituals of flamingos are not restricted to male members of the family alone. Insteadboth the males and females enact ritual displays to attract potential mates.
26. The loyal partners
Like Sandhill CranesAlbatrossBald Eagles and a few other birdsflamingos fall into the ‘monogamous’ bird species. In other wordsthey are birds that mate for life.
27. Flamingos Engage in Homosexuality
Flamingos are among the list of birds that engage in same-sex relationships.
28. Only one egg per year?
YesFlamingos also almost never lay more than one egg per year.
29. Their nests look like mini volcanoes
Flamingo nests are also quite unique in appearance. These mud nests are shaped like ‘mini volcanoes’ and the birdstrue to their social naturebuild their nests in close proximity to each other.
30. Both male and female build the nest together
Another highly unusual fact about flamingos is that when it comes to the brooding and hatching of the eggboth mom and dad flamingo share the duties. They also build the nest together. Quite modernwe would say!
31. Like PenguinsFlamingos also feed crop milk to their chicks
Flamingo chicks are fed with “crop milk” until they are big enough to forage for their own food. Flamingos don’t have mammary glands and the crop milk is produced in their upper digestive tracts (the ‘crop’) and is then fed to the chick through the mouth of the parent flamingo.
32. Both male and female produce crop milk
Alsocrop milk is produced both in male and female flamingosmeaning the males again take equal responsibility when it comes to feeding the babiestoo!
33. Chick’s Color
Flamingo chicks are born with gray or white feathers and take up to three years to develop their pink coloration.
34. Raising Chicks in Alkaline Lakes
Surprisingly enoughcertain flamingo species raise their chicks in “soda” or alkaline lakes. Surprising since the extremely high concentration of salt in these lakes make the waters so corrosive that they will burn the skin of most animals. Researchers are yet to gain enough insights on a flamingo’s physiology to understand how they are able to raise their young ones in such places.
35. Crèche Formation After Two Weeks
Flamingo parents leave their babies alone once the latter are about 2 weeks old and these babies then stick close together in their own groups that are called ‘crèches’!
36. They can produce varied sounds
Flamingos are extremely noisy birds. Different types of vocalizations (nasal honkinggruntsgrowls) of the birds serve a number of purposesincluding attracting mateskeeping large flocks of birds togetherparent-young recognition and more.
37. The zoo with the maximum flamingoes
The zoo with the maximum number of flamingos is the San Diego Zoo in CaliforniaUSA. The San Diego Zoo is renowned for its extensive collection of flamingosparticularly its large and impressive flock of greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus). Four out of the six flamingo species are raised here.
38. Mirrors in the zoo!
Zoos are known to use mirrors to encourage breeding behavior in flamingos. Apparentlythe mirrors make the flamingos believe that they are living among much larger flocks than is actually the case.
39. A Flamingo at an airport!
Tampa International Airport (TPA) in TampaFlorida, features a huge flamingo statue. The sculpturetitled “Home,” is a 21-foot-tall flamingo created by artist Matthew Mazzotta. It was installed in the airport’s main terminal and has become a notable attraction for travelers passing through the airport.
40. Symbolism in Ancient Egyptian Mythology
In the ‘Book of the Faiyum,’ Setthe ancient Egyptian god of stormsdesert and violenceis depicted with the head of a flamingo.
41. “Flamingo tongue” is a delicacy
And talking of flamingo tonguesthey were actually considered to be ‘delicacies’ to peoples of Ancient Rome. As a matter of factfoie gras was no less popular with the Romans as it is with us.