Greater Flamingo

The Greater Flamingo is the largest flamingo species and the most widely distributed, occurring across parts of Africa, southern Europe, the Middle East, and South and Central Asia. It is generally the palest of the flamingos, with mostly whitish-pink plumage, deep pink wing coverts, and black flight feathers. Its bill is pale pink with a sharply demarcated black tip, and its legs are entirely pink.

Often seen in large flocks wading through shallow saline lagoons, the Greater Flamingo is an iconic bird of Mediterranean wetlands such as the Camargue in France, as well as major waterbodies across Africa and Asia.

Key field marks

• Largest flamingo species, tallest standing height
• Pale pinkish-white overall plumage with deeper pink wing coverts
• Bicolored bill: pink base, black tip
• Uniformly pink legs

Similar species

• Lesser Flamingo is smaller and deeper pink with a mostly dark bill.
• American Flamingo is much more saturated scarlet-pink.
• Chilean Flamingo has gray legs with pink joints.

Habitat

Inhabits shallow saline lagoons, coastal estuaries, salt pans, and alkaline inland lakes.

Range

Widespread from the Mediterranean (southern Europe, North Africa) through the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa to South and Central Asia.

Migration

Some populations are partially migratory, moving seasonally between breeding and wintering wetlands, while others are largely resident.

Behavior

Forages in large flocks, wading through shallow water while sweeping its inverted bill from side to side to filter food; frequently stands on one leg while resting.

Voice

Loud, goose-like honking calls, particularly vocal in flight and at breeding colonies.

Feeding

Filters algae, small crustaceans, mollusks, and other invertebrates from mud and water using comb-like lamellae in the bill.

Nesting

Breeds colonially, building mud mound nests on open flats or shallow water; lays a single white egg.