American Flamingo - FWC

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Buy and Apply
- Recreational
  - Fishing & Hunting
    - How to Order
    - Do I Need a License?
    - Limited Entry/Quota Hunts
  - Public Land Use
  - Accessibility Accommodations
- Commercial
  - Commercial Licenses
    - Commercial Saltwater
    - Commercial Freshwater
    - CLS Online Login
  - Charter Licenses
  - Vessel Pier Licenses
- Wildlife
  - Wildlife Permits
  - Nuisance Wildlife Permits
  - Captive Wildlife Permits
- More ...
  - Application Forms
  - Boating & Navigation
Resolve a Wildlife Conflict
- Wildlife Alert
  - Report a Violation
  - Know the Rules
    - Captive Wildlife
    - Saltwater Recreational Regulations
    - Freshwater Recreational Regulations
    - Hunting Regulations
    - Boating Regulations
    - See All
- Resolve Wildlife Conflict
  - Learn to Unhook Seabirds
  - Living with Wildlife
    - Bear
    - Bats
    - Coyote
    - Alligators and Crocodiles
    - Shorebirds/Seabirds
    - Snakes
    - See All
- Report Issues
  - Report fish kills, wildlife emergencies, sightings, etc.
    - Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program
    - Report Fish Kills
    - Red Tide Status
    - Report Sightings of Nonnative Species
    - Report injured, orphaned or dead manatees
    - See All
Engaging in Conservation
- Conservation
  - Value of Conservation
  - Living with Wildlife
  - Freshwater Programs
  - Saltwater Programs
  - Terrestrial Programs
  - Stash the trash
  - Special Initiatives
    - Coastal Wildlife
    - State Wildlife Action Plan
    - See All
- Wildlife and Habitats
  - Wildlife Conservation
  - Nonnative Species
  - Species Profiles
    - Alligator
    - Bald Eagle
    - Bear
    - Gopher Tortoise
    - Manatee
    - Panther
    - Sea Turtle
    - See All
- How You Can Conserve
  - Install Wildlife Lighting
  - Exotic Pet Amnesty
  - Habitat Management
    - Working with Private Landowners
    - Invasive Plants
    - Prescribed Fire
    - Management Plans
    - Aquatic Habitat Conservation
    - See All
  - Education
    - Educators
    - Outdoor Skills
    - Learn about Wildlife
    - See All
- Research
  - Freshwater
  - GIS and Mapping
  - Habitat
  - Manatee
  - Red Tide
  - Saltwater
  - Wildlife
  - Publications
  - About
Things To Do
- Fishing
  - Freshwater Fishing
    - Recreational Regulations
    - Commercial Regulations
    - Fish Identification
    - Fishing Education
    - Sites & Forecasts
    - See All
  - Saltwater Fishing
    - Recreational Regulations
    - Commercial Regulations
    - Fish Identification
    - Saltwater Fishing Clinics
    - Provide Comments
    - See All
- Hunting
  - Regulations
    - WMA Brochures
    - Season Dates
    - Hunter Safety
    - Limited Entry Hunts
  - New Hunter
  - Public Shooting Ranges
  - Alligator
  - Deer
  - Dove
  - Turkey
  - Quail
  - Waterfowl
  - Wild Hog
- Wildlife Recreation
  - Wildlife Viewing
    - Where to View Wildlife
    - How to View Wildlife
    - Backyards and Beyond
    - Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail
    - See All
  - Recreation on Wild Lands
    - What are WMAS?
    - Explore by name
    - Explore by map
    - What to Do
    - See All
- Boating
  - Regulations
  - Safety & Education
    - Safety Equipment
    - ID Cards
    - Courses
    - See All
  - Boat Ramps & Access
  - Derelict Vessels
  - Stash the trash
  - Wear It Florida
  - Wildlife Alert
Places To Go
- WMAs
  - WMA Brochures
    - Area Opened/Closed Status
  - What are Wildlife Management Areas?
    - Explore By Name
    - Explore the Map
    - See All
- Recreation
  - Where to Go
    - Hunting
    - Fishing
    - Wildlife Viewing
    - Hiking
    - See All
  - Outfitters and Guides
- Public Shooting Ranges
  - Range Safety Rules
  - Safety & Education
  - Map of public shooting ranges
- Go Outdoors Florida!
  - Discover Wildlands
  - Fishing Sites & Forecasts
  - Boating Ramps & Access
  - Great Florida Birding & Wildlife Trail
  - Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network
  - Calendar of Events
  - Artificial Reefs
About Us
- About
  - Inside FWC
    - Research Institute
    - Hunting and Game Management
    - Freshwater Fisheries Management
    - Law Enforcement
    - Habitat and Species Conservation
    - Marine Fisheries Management
    - See All
- Commission
  - Commission Meetings
  - Commissioners
  - Agency Overview
  - Strategic Planning
  - Rules & Regulations
  - News
    - Sign up for news releases
- Contact
  - Social Media
  - FWC Offices
  - Law Enforcement
  - Wildlife Alert
  - Tell Us What You Think
  - Rule Change Comments
  - Public Records Requests
  - Order Publications
  - Signs
  - Participation at Your Event
- Get Involved
  - Volunteer
  - Internships
  - Employment
    - Law Enforcement
    - Career Opportunities
  - Support FWC
    - Gift Ideas
    - Youth Programs and Activities
    - Donate
    - Buy-a-Plate

American flamingo

Phoenicopterus ruber

Species Status Native
View All Species

Also called Caribbean flamingo

Appearance

The American flamingo is one of the largest species of flamingo, averaging up to 5 feet tall thanks to long legs and an elongated neck. Average weights are between 4-8 pounds. They get their mostly pink to red plumage color from pigment in their food, including aquatic invertebrates such as shrimp. Flamingos also have black feathers at the edge of their wings. They have webbed feet for wading in shallow water and a distinctive black tip on their bills.

Habitat

Globally, the American flamingo is widely distributed throughout the Caribbean, with breeding populations found in Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas. A small disjunct breeding population also occurs in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador and a breeding colony of birds that were originally imported and kept captive via pinioning occurs in Florida. There has been some evidence of recent breeding in the Dominican Republic and potential breeding sites also may exist in Colombia, Curaçao and the Turks and Caicos Islands. The American flamingo is generally considered to be non-migratory but is a strong flier that can move large distances in search of food or reproductive opportunities and as such can be found in additional countries throughout the Caribbean.

In Florida, American flamingos have been observed along much of the state’s coast; however, outside of Hialeah, more than 95% of observations have occurred within the Everglades, Biscayne Bay and the Florida Keys. In addition, flamingos are increasingly being reported in the shallow treatment wetlands created along the northern fringe of the Everglades.

Behavior

American flamingos are social birds, often congregating in large flocks that can range from several pairs to groups numbering in the thousands. They are considered non-migratory but can easily fly large distances. American flamingos communicate through a variety of vocalizations and body displays.

Conservation and Management

The FWC considers flamingos native to Florida and this is not a new determination. Flamingos were native to Florida but disappeared from the state around the turn of the 20th century. After about 1925, people started captive colonies of flamingos in South Florida, including a breeding colony at Hialeah Park Race Track in the 1930s, which still remains. A growing body of evidence over the years suggests that at least some American flamingos in Florida have arrived on their own from outside of the state. The FWC treats flamingos as native species protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

The IUCN estimates the global population to be 260,000-330,000 mature individuals. Survey efforts are inconsistent across the range of the flamingo and recent data are lacking from some locations, but available information indicates that regional long-term population trends are stable or positive. Florida’s population is estimated to be a fraction of 1% of the global population of this species.

References

Baldassarre G.A., and F. Arengo. 2000. A review of the ecology and conservation of Caribbean flamingos in Yucatán, Mexico. Waterbirds 23 (Special Publication 1):70–79.

Childress B., F. Arengo, and A. Bechet. 2008. Flamingo, Bulletin of the IUCN-SSC/Wetlands International Flamingo Specialist Group, No. 16. Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge, U.K.

Espinoza F., and L. Torres. 2019. Caribbean flamingo breeding at Olivitos Wildlife Refuge and Fishing Reserve, Zulia, Venezuela. Flamingo e2:27–33.

Galvez, X., L. Guerrero, and R. Migoya. 2016. Physical evidence of the metapopulation structure in Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber) from sighting of banded birds. Revista Cubana de Ciencias Biológicas 4:93–98.

Garrido, E., Y. M. Leon, Y. Arias, and L. Perdomo. 2010. Nidificación reciente del Flamenco (Phoenicopterus ruber) en República Dominicana. Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 23: 50–51.

Moloney, M. 2018. Reintroduction of Caribbean flamingos to the Virgin Islands: Support systems for a successful colony on Necker Island, British Virgin Islands. Flamingo 2018:41–47.

Mugica L., M. Acosta, Jiménez A., and A. Rodríguez. 2012. Current knowledge and conservation of Cuban waterbirds and their habitats. Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 25:64–76.

Torres-Cristiani, L., S. Machkour-M’Rabet, S. Calmé, H. Weissenberger, and G. Escalona-Segura. 2020. Assessment of the American Flamingo distribution, trends, and important breeding areas. PLoS ONE 15: e0244117.

Wells J., and A. Debrot. 2008. Important Bird Areas in the Caribbean – Bonaire. Pages 95–102 In Important Bird Areas in the Caribbean: Key Sites for Conservation. Birdlife Conservation Series, No. 15 (Wege D.C., V. Anadón-Irizarry, and M. Vincenty, eds.). Birdlife International, Cambridge, UK.

Whitfield, S.M., P. Frezza, F.N. Ridgley, A. Mauro, J.M. Patterson, A. Pernas, and J.J. Lorenz. 2018. Status and trends of American flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) in Florida, USA. Condor: Ornithological Applications 120:291–304.

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