Back to Field Guide
American Flamingo
Phoenicopterus ruber
Audubon Illustration
John James Audubon, Birds of America (1827-1838). Public domain.
Range & Recent Observations
Last Spotted Near You
About the American Flamingo
The American flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) is a large species of flamingo native to the West Indies, northern South America (including the Galápagos Islands) and the Yucatán Peninsula. It is closely related to the greater flamingo and Chilean flamingo, and was formerly considered conspecific with the greater flamingo, but that treatment is now widely viewed (e.g. by the American and British Ornithologists' Unions) as incorrect due to a lack of evidence. It is also known as the Caribbean flamingo, although it is also present in the Galápagos Islands. It is the only flamingo that naturally inhabits North America. It is a cultural icon for the U.S.
Source: Wikipedia
Classification
- Scientific name
- Phoenicopterus ruber
- Family
- Flamingos
- Order
- Phoenicopteriformes
Similar species
Other members of the flamingos family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.
Know when the American Flamingo turns up near you
How rare bird alerts work →Gear for spotting American Flamingo
Optics
Best Binoculars for Beginners
You don't need to spend a fortune. These four pairs will get you birding confidently on day one.
8 min readRead guide
Cameras
Cameras for Bird Photography
From phone adapters to dedicated rigs, here's what actually works for capturing birds in the field.
12 min readRead guide