Greater Flamingo
Phoenicopterus roseus

>> GENERAL >>>>>

– large waterbird
– diurnal/nocturnal migrant
– migrates in small to large flocks in formation

>> VISUAL ID >>>>>


Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus, 1CY
BIF2906, 20/11/2016, Eilat, Israel, Michael Heiß
– unique silhouette with very long neck and legs and rather lean body
– JUV appears somewhat ‚dirtier‘ than older birds
– underwing coverts already slightly pink


Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus, 2CY
BIF2907, 11/02/2015, Khawr Rawri, Oman, Mathias Putze
– after postjuvenile moult IMM show a mixture of dark and light grey upperwing coverts to a varying extend
– legs and bill grey


Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus, 1CY
BIF2908, 20/11/2016, Eilat, Israel, Michael Heiß
– the bird to the left still with largely remaining dark juvenile upperwing coverts


Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus, AD
BIF7004, 07/01/2022, Thessaloniki, Greece, Mathias Putze
– pale rosy body and neck contrasting to bright dark pink-red underwing coverts and axillaries
– all but the innermost remiges are black


Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus, AD
BIF7005, 07/01/2022, Thessaloniki, Greece, Mathias Putze
– dark pink upperwing coverts and black remiges contrasting to pale rosy body
– bill dull pink with well defined black tip
– legs pinkish


Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus, 2CY, IMM, AD
BIF2911, 14/02/2015, Khawr Dhurf, Oman, Mathias Putze


Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus, AD, 1CY
BIF2912, 07/11/2011, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
– from below the contrast between black remiges and underwing coverts is more obvious in JUV
– aging as AD also possible because of the pink innermost remiges and axillaries


Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus, AD, 1CY
BIF2913, 08/10/2011, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
– migration often in tidy formation


Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus, AD
BIF2914, 17/11/2016, Eilat, Israel, Michael Heiß


Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus, 1CY
BIF2915, 07/11/2011, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß


Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus
BIF2916, 17/09/2016, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß


Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus
BIF2917, 17/09/2016, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß


Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus
BIF2918, 16/09/2016, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß


Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus
BIF2919, 16/09/2016, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß

>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>

– utter at least two different calls in flight
– most common is a 2ms dark trill – two phrases, each consisting of a fast series of same elements,
uttered singly or a in a row
– a 3,5ms long, two-syllabled, very nasal, Anser-goose-like call is uttered less frequent
– the louder, first part of this call is slightly modulated and with dense, even partials
– the second, much quieter part is a 1ms long series of same elements, but slower repeated as in the more frequent flight call


– detail –

– detail –

– overview –
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus, calls in flight
BIF2924, 23/02/2019, Eilat, Israel, Patrick Franke


Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus, calls in flight
BIF2926, 23/02/2019, Eilat, Israel, Patrick Franke


Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus, calls in flight
BIF2927, 23/02/2019, Eilat, Israel, Patrick Franke

>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>

Greylag Goose (a)
Lesser Flamingo (v)
American Flamingo (v) (escape)
Chiliean Flamingo (v) (escape)

#waterbird

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