Caribbean flamingo

Facts

IUCN LEAST CONCERN (LC)

Facts about this animal

The Caribbean flamingo has a total length of about 120 cm. The male flamingo is somewhat larger than the female. The plumage of adult flamingos is rosy vermilion to pinkish salmon. The deepest colour is on the neck and the wing-coverts. The primary feathers are black, but are often concealed when the wings are folded. The bill is big and curved downwards. The botton third is black in colour, the remainder part is pale yellow/ivory. The eyes are yellow. Juveniles are mostly greyish with a tinge of pink on the underparts and the wings.

Did you know?
that most populations require a large colony for successful breeding? This is a problem for breeding flamingos in zoos. However, small groups have been tricked into displaying breeding activity by using mirrors.

Factsheet
Class	AVES
Order	CICONIIFORMES
Suborder	PHOENICOPTERI
Family	PHOENICOPTERIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Phoenicopterus ruber
Name (English)	Caribbean flamingo
Name (French)	Flamant de Cuba
Name (German)	Kubaflamingo
Name (Spanish)	Flamenco del Caribe
CITES Status	Appendix II
CMS Status	Appendix II

Photo Copyright by
Martin Pettitt

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Along the north coasts of South America and the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Another population is located along the north-eastern rim of the Caribbean in the Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti and the Turks and caicos Islands. The smallest population occur in the Galapagos.
Habitat	Saline lagoons, mudflats, shallow brackish coastal or inland lakes
Wild population	Not threatened, but population has declined markedly due to pollution, loss of habitat through global warming and development, and hunting. Total population is estimated 80'000 - 90'000 birds.
Zoo population	4041 reported to ISIS (2007)

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 17 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

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