Greater Flamingos at Diergaarde Blijdorp, Rotterdam (Holland)
The Greater Flamingo is the most widespread species of the flamingo family. It is found in parts of Africa, southern Asia
(coastal regions of Pakistan and India), and southern Europe (including Spain, Albania, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, Italy and the Camargue region of France). They are pinkish white in colour but immature birds are grey before they get their full adult plumage. They have long, pink legs with relatively small webbed feet, and a very long neck. Their large bill is downward curving and it is pink in colour with a black tip. They have narrow wings with their primary and secondary flight feathers being black in colour and their wing coverts being red. Greater Flamingos are unmistakable in flight with their long, thin neck outstretched in front and their long legs outstretched behind them. Flocks form either long, trailing lines or irregular shapes whilst in flight. Greater Flamingos have a loud, deep honking call that is similar to that of a goose.
They call loudly during courtship but they have a quieter call while they are feeding.