Animal Profiles
Birds

Flamingo

Phoenicopteridae

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Flamingos are long-legged waterbirds with curved filtering bills. The American flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) is the representative species described here.

Phoenicopterus ruber (flamingo)

Representative species: Phoenicopterus ruber.

JeffreyGammon · CC BY

At a glance

Location
American flamingos use shallow Caribbean and northern South American wetlands, including saline lagoons and coastal mudflats. Other flamingo species have different ranges.
Habitat
Wetlands, Coast
Diet
Filter feeder
Food
Tiny aquatic animals and other small food particles are strained from water.

Classification

Common name
Flamingo
Browse group
Birds
Scientific name or taxon
Phoenicopteridae
Taxon rank
family
Order
Phoenicopteriformes
Family
Phoenicopteridae
Source classification
Aves

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • It feeds with its head inverted.
  • It nests on a mound of mud.
  • Colonies may contain many breeding pairs.

Habitat and range

American flamingos use shallow Caribbean and northern South American wetlands, including saline lagoons and coastal mudflats. Other flamingo species have different ranges.

Appearance and adaptations

Long legs allow it to wade while its bent bill works near the bottom. Structures inside the bill act as a sieve.

Diet and behaviour

Tiny aquatic animals and other small food particles are strained from water. Birds stir sediment and filter the suspended food. Flocks feed and breed together, using coordinated displays during courtship.

Sources

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