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Difference between revisions of "Greater Flamingo" - BirdForum Opus

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==References==
 
==References==
#{{Ref-Clements6thDec09}}#Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug14}}#Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
 
#Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
 
#Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
 
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Revision as of 19:49, 25 August 2014

Photo by christ34
Camargue, France
Phoenicopterus roseus

Identification

Length 120-145cm
Wing span 140-170cm
Adult

  • White, tinged pink
  • Red wing coverts
  • Black flight feathers
  • Decurved bill with black tip, red-orange in middle and pale yellow near eye in nominate, dark pink in roseus
  • Legs pink and extremely long

Juvenile
Grey-brown with whitish underparts

Similar Species

Photo by swarovskiuser
Lesvos, Greece, May 2008

Chilean Flamingo has grey legs with pink knees. Lesser Flamingo is smaller, has a dark bill and a dark red eye.

Distribution

Locally in southern Europe and Mediterranean basin to South Africa and Indian subcontinent.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species.
Was formerly considered conspecific with American Flamingo.

Habitat

Salt pans and large bodies of shallow water, inland and coastal; saline and brackish waters preferred.

Behaviour

Immature
Photo by ammadoux
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, January 2014

Highly gregarious

Breeding

Breed in large colonies in nests that consists of mud compacted into a mound on top of which the nest of mud and twigs is situated, this is built by both sexes. 1 white egg is laid, and incubated by both parents for 27-31 days.

Diet

The diet includes small crustaceans, molluscs, and insects.

Vocalisation

Loud cackles (reminiscent of Greylag Goose)
<flashmp3>Phoenicopterus ruber (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
  3. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6

Recommended Citation

External Links


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