Greater flamingo
Amazing fact
Algae in the greater flamingo's diet help keep its feathers pink.
University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web
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An illustration based on the real animal.
A little discovery to share.
Algae in the greater flamingo's diet help keep its feathers pink.
THE REAL WORLD
The real Greater flamingo
- Scientific name
- Phoenicopterus roseus
- Japanese name
- ヨーロッパフラミンゴ（オオフラミンゴ）
- Group
- Birds
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Phoenicopteriformes
- Family
- Phoenicopteridae
- Genus
- Phoenicopterus
A flamingo of the Mediterranean coast, southwestern Asia and Africa, living along coasts and in inland wetlands.
It puts its head upside down in the water and filters algae, crustaceans and other food out of the mud on the bottom.
How the Greater flamingo lives
It is active during the day. While feeding, it makes a low, gabbling murmur. It keeps moving to find places with enough resources for the whole flock. Adults keep their chicks together in nursery groups.
University of Michigan Animal Diversity WebBasic data
- Size
- Total length: 120–145 cmWingspan: 140–165 cm多摩動物公園
- Weight
- 2.1–4.1 kg多摩動物公園
- Lifespan
- up to 50 years in the wildUniversity of Michigan Animal Diversity Web
- Active
- By day (diurnal)University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web
- Diet
- Algae, zooplankton, small crustaceans, and other foods多摩動物公園
- Range
- Mediterranean coast, southwestern Asia, and Africa多摩動物公園
Where the Greater flamingo has been recorded
Records: GBIF.org (CC0 and CC BY 4.0 records, retrieved 2026-11-07). Map: Natural EarthSee the records on GBIF
Watch wild animals from a distance. Do not touch or feed them, and take care of the places where they live.
Names around the world
- 简体中文
- 大红鹳
- 繁體中文
- 大紅鸛
- 한국어
- 큰홍학
- Español
- Flamenco común
- Français
- Flamant rose
- Deutsch
- Rosaflamingo
- Português (Brasil)
- Flamingo-comum
- Italiano
- Fenicottero rosa
- हिन्दी
- greater flamingo
- العربية
- نحام أكبر
- Tiếng Việt
- Hồng hạc lớn
- Русский
- Обыкновенный фламинго
- Türkçe
- Büyük flamingo
- বাংলা
- বড় ফ্লেমিঙ্গো
- اردو
- بڑا لم ڈھینگ
Names come from Wikidata and iNaturalist records. Where a language has no recorded name, we use the scientific name.
Sources and how we check
- 多摩動物公園 — ヨーロッパフラミンゴChecked: 2026-11-03
- University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web — Phoenicopterus roseusChecked: 2026-11-03
We check each fact against its source. The illustrations simplify how the real animal looks.
The classification (class, order, family, genus) follows Wikidata records, checked against GBIF. Classifications can change as research goes on.
The basic data are the values given in each source. They vary with how the animal is measured, whether it is male or female, and whether it lives in the wild or in captivity.
This page was translated from the original Japanese with the help of AI.
Report a mistakeWhen you meet the Greater flamingo, look for this
- Look for the comb-like ridges along the edges of its bent bill.
- Look for the webbing between its toes, too.
Animals do different things from day to day, so you may not always see this.
多摩動物公園EXHIBIT INFORMATION
Places that keep or show the Greater flamingo
Zoos, aquariums and other places whose official websites say they keep or show this animal.
Kanto
Displays can change with the animals’ health and the seasons. Check each facility’s official website before you go.
RELATIVES
Others in Phoenicopteridae
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