The greater flamingo is the most widespread and largest species of the flamingo family. Common in the Old World, they are found in Northern (coastal) and Sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, the Middle East, the Levant, the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean countries of Southern Europe.
Region
Afro-Eurasia
Typical Environment
Occupies saline and alkaline wetlands across the Mediterranean basin, sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. Prefers coastal lagoons, mudflats, estuaries, and inland salt lakes with shallow water. Frequently uses man-made salt pans and wastewater ponds where salinity supports their food base. Breeding occurs in large colonies on open mudflats or islets with minimal disturbance.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Other
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Greater flamingos get their pink coloration from carotenoid pigments in their diet of algae and small crustaceans. Chicks hatch grey-white with straight bills that gradually curve as they mature. They perform synchronized group displays during courtship, with head-flagging and wing-salutes. Long-lived birds, some individuals have surpassed 50 years in captivity.
Temperament
social and gregarious
Flight Pattern
strong flier with steady wingbeats; flies with neck and legs fully extended
Social Behavior
Breeds in dense colonies numbering thousands, constructing cone-shaped mud nests. Typically forms long-term pairs and both parents incubate and feed the chick with crop milk. Outside breeding, forms large flocks that roost and feed together, often moving en masse between wetlands.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Vocalizations are nasal, goose-like honks and honking grunts that carry over long distances. Colonies produce a continuous chorus, which helps maintain social cohesion during displays and flight.
