Photo: Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
American Flamingo
Phoenicopterus ruber
American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) — Grebes, Loons & Flamingos of North America.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) is a member of the Phoenicopteridae family found in Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Adults weigh 3 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Phoenicopteriformes
- Family Phoenicopteridae Flamingos
- Genus Phoenicopterus
- Species ruber
Where it lives
Northern, Galápagos Is; also Caribbean
Quick facts
- Weight
- 3 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Phoenicopteridae
- Order
- Phoenicopteriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Male vs female
Sexes look alike (deep pink overall with black flight feathers); males average slightly larger.
Juvenile appearance
First-year birds are grey-brown and white overall, gradually accumulating dietary carotenoids and reaching full adult pink in 2-3 years.
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The American Flamingo hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of coastal habitats, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The American Flamingo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) is a member of the Phoenicopteridae family, within the order Phoenicopteriformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Its distribution covers NA, MA, SA n, Galápagos Is; also Caribbean.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 3 kg, with a wing length of about 40.9 cm and a tail of around 13.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 241,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the American Flamingo?
The American Flamingo is a very large bird that weighs around 3 kg.
Where does the American Flamingo live?
The American Flamingo is found across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America with a range covering NA, MA, SA n, Galápagos Is; also Caribbean, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the American Flamingo belong to?
The American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) belongs to the Phoenicopteridae family, in the order Phoenicopteriformes.
What does the American Flamingo eat?
The American Flamingo hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the American Flamingo migrate?
The American Flamingo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the American Flamingo endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the American Flamingo make?
1 real field recording of the American Flamingo — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the American Flamingo's range?
The American Flamingo has a mapped global range of about 241,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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