Flamingo

Flamingos ( listen (info • help)) are types of birds. They are noisy birds and they live in big groups called flocks. Flamingos are wading birds. This means they live by water, such as lakes.

Flamingos
An American flamingo (front), with a Chilean flamingos (back)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Phoenicopteriformes Fürbringer, 1888
Family:	Phoenicopteridae Bonaparte, 1831
Genus:	Phoenicopterus Linnaeus, 1758

A flock of James's flamingos during their mating ritual. The males vocalize and stick their necks and heads straight up in the air, turning them back and forth; females initiate mating by walking away.

They are in the genus Phoenicopterus and family Phoenicopteridae. There are six species of flamingo. Two of species are found in Africa, Europe and Asia. The other four are found in North America and South America.

Flamingos are pink or red. This is because of small bacteria that live in water which the flamingos eat. They also eat small crayfish and algae. Baby flamingos are gray. Flamingos can fly. This is why they have wings. Flamingos are very tall birds and they have long legs. They often stand on only one leg. Scientsts found that they do this beacuse it takes less energy than standing on two legs. Flamingos have a curved bill that is shaped like a banana. This is because they feed in the mud on the bottom of lakes. Flamingos can weigh up to 4 kg and be up to 145cm tall. They live up to around 47 years.

Conservation

Many flamingos that live in Kenya and Tanzania are dying. Scientists do not know why. They think it may be because of bacteria in the water.

Taxonomy

The Phonenicopteriformes is an order of birds, which contains the family of flamingos and two another families which are extinct.

Living species

• Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)
• Lesser flamingo (Phoenicopterus minor)
• Chilean flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis)
• James's flamingo (Phoenicoparrus jamesi)
• Andean flamingo (Phoenicopterus andinus)
• American flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)

FlamingoTaxonomy Media

• Captive American flamingos feeding

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  Many molecular and morphological studies support a relationship between grebes and flamingos.

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  Flamant rose Salines de Thyna

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  Lesser Flamingo (Phoenicopterus minor) - Lake Naivasha, Kenya

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  Westfalenpark-100821-17767-Flamingo

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  James's Flamingo Phoenicopterus jamesi, southwestern BoliviaJames's Flamingo

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  Two andeanflamingo june2003 arp

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  Greater flamingo galapagos

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  American and Chilean flamingos in captivity

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  Flamingos in flight at Río Lagartos, Yucatán, Mexico

• American flamingos vocalizing at the Stone Zoo in Massachusetts, USA