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Greater Flamingo
Field guide
bird · NA

Greater Flamingo

Phoenicopterus roseus

Add photoLog sighting
Overview

Pink drifts across Walvis Bay's lagoons after the rains.

The pale pink tide that sweeps the Walvis Bay lagoon each year is the greater flamingo, the largest and most widespread of the flamingos, standing up to a meter and a half on legs that seem borrowed from a taller bird. The species numbers in the hundreds of thousands worldwide, and coastal Namibia hosts some of the greatest gatherings in southern Africa, tens of thousands feeding in the shallows alongside their smaller, deeper-pink cousins. The color is diet, carotenoids from the invertebrates it filters; a flamingo eats its way pink. When the inland pans flood after good rains, flocks commute hundreds of kilometers overnight to breed on the mud, one of the region's least witnessed spectacles.

Behaviour

Intensely gregarious. Group courtship is a massed, head-flagging parade ground march, and crèches of gray chicks are minded by a few adults like a kindergarten.

Diet

Brine shrimp, insect larvae, small molluscs and algae, pumped through a fringed bill held upside-down while the tongue works like a piston.

Photography

Walvis Bay at low tide, light behind you: reflections double every bird. Panning at 1/60 turns a take-off run across the water into motion silk.

Ethics

Never flush a flock for a flight shot. Each panic burn costs energy budgeted for migration and breeding.

Where you'll find them

Generalised encounter areas, not exact locations. Each shape is a grid cell coloured by how likely the species is there.

  • Namibia
    10 km zone · high confidence · 1165 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 47 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 52 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 54 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · high confidence · 59 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 47 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 27 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · high confidence · 103 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · high confidence · 127 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · high confidence · 152 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · high confidence · 156 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · high confidence · 244 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · high confidence · 97 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · high confidence · 687 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 21 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 13 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 13 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 34 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 20 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 28 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · high confidence · 64 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · high confidence · 85 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · high confidence · 105 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · high confidence · 103 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · high confidence · 137 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · high confidence · 64 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · high confidence · 660 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 28 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 32 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 29 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 35 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 19 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 36 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 54 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · high confidence · 108 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · high confidence · 86 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 49 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · high confidence · 136 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 48 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · high confidence · 379 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 17 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 21 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 23 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 19 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 16 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 33 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 42 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 55 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 48 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 54 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 44 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · high confidence · 309 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 16 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 16 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 13 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 13 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 35 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 38 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 37 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 44 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 38 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 50 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · high confidence · 242 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 8 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 9 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 12 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 9 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 12 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 9 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 17 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 37 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · high confidence · 59 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 36 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 27 records · updated 1 day ago
    Very likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · high confidence · 201 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 11 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 8 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 15 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 19 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 26 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 50 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 18 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 23 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 19 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · high confidence · 93 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 11 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 8 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 13 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 11 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 8 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 10 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 9 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 56 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 6 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 14 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 6 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 10 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 43 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 8 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 9 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 13 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 40 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 6 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 8 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 34 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 9 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 6 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 8 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 33 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 10 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 6 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 31 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 6 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 9 records · updated 1 day ago
    Likely
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 27 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 11 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 9 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 16 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 14 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 10 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 10 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 10 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 9 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 9 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 9 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 9 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 9 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
    Possible
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
    Uncommon
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 6 records · updated 1 day ago
    Uncommon
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 6 records · updated 1 day ago
    Uncommon
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 6 records · updated 1 day ago
    Uncommon
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
    Uncommon
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 4 records · updated 1 day ago
    Uncommon
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 4 records · updated 1 day ago
    Uncommon
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 4 records · updated 1 day ago
    Uncommon
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
    Rare
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
    Rare
  • Namibia
    10 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
    Rare
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