Flamingo

Flamingos are wading birds that make up the family Phoenicopteridae, the only living family in the order Phoenicopteriformes. Six species exist today: four across the Americas (including the Caribbean) and two native to Afro-Eurasia.

The name "flamingo" traces back to Portuguese or Spanish *flamengo*, meaning "flame-colored," which itself comes from Provençal *flamenc*—a blend of *flama* ("flame") and a Germanic-like suffix *-ing*. It may have also been influenced by the Spanish ethnonym *flamenco* ("Fleming" or "Flemish"). The genus name *Phoenicopterus* is from Ancient Greek *phoinikopteros* ("crimson/red-feathered"). Other genus names include *Phoeniconaias* ("crimson/red water nymph") and *Phoenicoparrus* ("crimson/red bird," though an unknown bird of omen). A group of flamingos is called a "flamboyance" or a "stand."

French zoologist Charles Lucien Bonaparte introduced the family Phoenicopteridae in 1831, with *Phoenicopterus* as the type genus. Traditionally, flamingos were considered close relatives of the long-legged Ciconiiformes (a likely paraphyletic group), with ibises and spoonbills (Threskiornithidae) seen as their closest kin within that order. Early genetic studies by Charles Sibley and others supported this. Relationships to waterfowl were also considered, partly because flamingos host feather lice from the genus *Anaticola*, otherwise found only on ducks and geese. The fossil presbyornithids were used to argue for a link between flamingos, waterfowl, and waders. A 2002 paper concluded they are waterfowl, but a 2014 comprehensive study of bird orders placed flamingos and grebes not with waterfowl but within Columbea, alongside doves, sandgrouse, and mesites.

Recent molecular studies suggest a relation with grebes, and morphological evidence strongly supports it—flamingos and grebes share at least 11 traits not found in other birds. Many of these traits were previously noted in flamingos but not grebes. The fossil palaelodids are considered evolutionarily and ecologically intermediate between the two. For this grebe-flamingo clade, the taxon Mirandornithes ("miraculous birds," due to their extreme divergence and apomorphies) has been proposed; alternatively, they could be placed in a single order, with Phoenocopteriformes taking priority.

A 2022 study by Roberto Frias-Soler and collaborators produced a cladogram showing phylogenetic relationships among the six extant flamingo species, confirmed by a 2026 study. All six species were formerly placed in one genus, *Phoenicopterus*, but a 2014 publication reclassified the family into two genera. By 2020, the family had three recognized genera (according to HBW). A 2026 study suggested returning to two genera, merging *Phoeniconaias* and *Phoenicoparrus* (with *Phoenicoparrus*, published in 1856, taking priority over *Phoeniconaias*, 1869). The two resulting genera are easily defined: *Phoenicopterus* has a deep keel bone, while *Phoenicoparrus* has a shallow keel bone.

Prehistoric flamingo species include: *Elornis?* (Late Oligocene, France), *Harrisonavis* (Middle Oligocene–Middle Miocene, Central Europe), *Leakeyornis* (Early to Middle Miocene, Kenya), *Phoeniconaias proeses* (Pliocene, Australia), *Phoeniconaias siamensis* (Early Miocene, Thailand), *Phoeniconotius* (Late Oligocene, South Australia), *Phoenicopterus copei* (Late Pleistocene, North America and Mexico), *Phoenicopterus floridanus* (Early Pliocene, Florida), *Phoenicopterus minutus* (Late Pleistocene, California), *Phoenicopterus novaehollandiae* (Late Oligocene, South Australia), *Phoenicopterus stocki* (Middle Pliocene, Mexico), and *Xenorhynchopsis* (Pliocene to Pleistocene, Australia).

The greater and American flamingos are the largest of the six species, standing 120–145 cm tall and weighing 2.1–4.1 kg. The lesser flamingo is the smallest, at 80–90 cm tall and 1.5–2 kg; James's flamingo is only slightly larger at 90–92 cm and 2 kg. Wingspans range from 95–100 cm in the lesser flamingo to 140–165 cm in the greater and American flamingos.

Flamingos often stand on one leg with the other tucked beneath the body. The reason is not fully understood. One theory is that it helps conserve body heat while wading in cold water, but the behavior also occurs in warm water and in birds that don't typically stand in water. Another theory is that it reduces energy expenditure for muscular effort to stand and balance. A study on cadavers showed the one-legged pose could be held without any muscle activity, while living flamingos show substantially less body movement in that stance.