Greater Flamingo
Phoenicopterus ruber
Animal facts
Flamingos are easily identifiable, colourful wading birds and often form large flocks of up to a million birds.
Greater flamingos are monogamous and lay only one egg at a time. Both parents help to incubate the egg and defend the nest.
Flamingos are often seen standing on one leg. This stance is thought to keep the hidden leg warm amongst their feathers. On very hot days at ZSL London Zoo visitors can often see the flamingos standing on both legs.
Where they live
Central America, South America, Caribbean, S.W. Europe, Asia, Africa.
Habitat
They inhabit a wide variety of freshwater and saline habitats, particularly salt lakes, estuaries and lagoons.
What they eat
Like many other flamingos they feed with their long necks bent over and their bills upside down in the water.
Their tongues pump salty water and mud in and out of their bills. By filtering the water with their bills they catch microscopic algae, which they then eat.
They also feed on insects, worms and small pieces of vegetation.
IUCN status
Not yet threatened
