Friday 11 November 2011

Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)

OTHER NAMES: Flamingo
Latin Etymology: Phoenicopterus ("red winged") roseus ("rosy")
Seven adult Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) at Laguna Navaseca, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 2-4kg  /  Height: 1-1.5m  /  Wingspan: 1.4-1.7m
ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Flamingos are perhaps one of the most famous bird groups in the world, their pink colouration being the main reasons I suspect.  The Greater Flamingo is probably the most easily found species in Europe, although it is by no means common, being limited to a few areas such as the Camargue in France, and the Donana National Park in Southern Spain, where I encountered them the first time.  They are huge birds, dwarfing even the massive White Storks that were feeding alongside them.  Despite their fame, these fellows were really more white than pink.  They are an incredibly long lived species by the standard of birds - the oldest currently known is 70 years and counting.

Related Species:
Order: Phoenicopteriformes

Family: Phoenicopteridae
Genus: Phoenicopterus
Subspecies: none - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -
ITALY -  Italian: Fenicottero Rosa ("Pink Flamingo")
A very local resident breeder,
 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - Seen flying over at Capo Murro di Porco and Siracusa. 
SPAIN - Spanish - Flamenco  ("Flamingo")
Scarce but locally abundant resident where suitable habitat exists.
 - SEVILLE 2011 TRIP: Numerous around El Rocio
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Abundant around Laguna Navaseca.

Further Notes: 
BirdForum OpusIUCN Red ListRSPBWikipedia, Xeno-canto

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