LC
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
AERC TAC. 2003. AERC TAC Checklist of bird taxa occurring in Western Palearctic region, 15th Draft. Available at: http://www.aerc.eu/DOCS/Bird_taxa_of_the_WP15.xls.
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.
Knox, A.G., Collinson, M., Helbig, A.J., Parkin, D.T. and Sangster,G. 2002. Taxonomic recommendations for British birds. Ibis 144: 707-710.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2018 Least Concern
2016 Least Concern
2012 Least Concern
2009 Least Concern
2008 Least Concern
2004 Least Concern
2000 Not Recognised
1994 Not Recognised
1988 Not Recognised
Species attributes

Migratory status full migrant Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 58,100,000 km2
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) 66,000,000 km2
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size unknown poor estimated 2012
Population trend increasing - suspected -
Generation length 16.3 years - - -

Population justification: The overall population is estimated at 550,000-680,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2015). The European population is estimated at 45,000-62,400 pairs, which equates to 89,900-125,000 mature individuals (BirdLife International 2015).

Trend justification: The overall population trend is increasing, although some populations may be stable (Wetlands International 2015). The European population is estimated to be increasing (BirdLife International 2015).


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Afghanistan extant native yes
Algeria extant native yes
Angola extant native
Armenia extant native
Austria extant vagrant
Azerbaijan extant native yes yes
Bahrain extant native yes
Bangladesh extant native
Belarus extant vagrant
Belgium extant vagrant
Botswana extant native yes
Bulgaria extant vagrant yes
Burundi extant native
Cambodia extant native
Cameroon extant vagrant
Cape Verde extant native
China (mainland) extant vagrant
Cocos (Keeling) Islands (to Australia) extant vagrant
Comoros extant native
Congo extant vagrant
Congo, The Democratic Republic of the extant vagrant
Croatia extant vagrant
Cyprus extant native yes
Czechia extant vagrant
Denmark extant vagrant
Djibouti extant native
Egypt extant native yes
Equatorial Guinea extant vagrant
Eritrea extant native
Eswatini extant vagrant
Ethiopia extant native
Finland extant vagrant
France extant native yes yes
Gambia extant native
Germany extant vagrant
Gibraltar (to UK) extant native
Greece extant native yes yes
Guinea extant native
Guinea-Bissau extant native
Hungary extant vagrant
India extant native
Iran, Islamic Republic of extant native yes
Iraq extant native yes
Israel extant native
Italy extant native yes yes
Jordan extant native yes
Kazakhstan extant native yes
Kenya extant native
Kuwait extant native yes yes
Kyrgyzstan extant vagrant
Latvia extant vagrant
Lebanon extant native yes
Lesotho extant vagrant
Libya extant native
Madagascar extant native
Malawi extant native
Maldives extant native
Malta extant vagrant
Mauritania extant native yes
Mauritius extant vagrant
Mayotte (to France) extant native
Mongolia extant vagrant
Montenegro extant vagrant
Morocco extant native
Mozambique extant native
Namibia extant native yes
Nepal extant native
Niger extant vagrant
North Macedonia extant native yes
Norway extant vagrant
Oman extant native yes yes
Pakistan extant native
Palestine extant native yes
Poland extant vagrant
Portugal extant native yes
Qatar extant native yes yes
Réunion (to France) extant vagrant
Romania extant vagrant
Russia extant native yes
Russia (Asian) extant native yes
Russia (Central Asian) extant vagrant
Russia (European) extant native
São Tomé e Príncipe extant native
Saudi Arabia extant native yes yes
Senegal extant native yes
Serbia extant vagrant
Seychelles extant native
Sierra Leone extant native
Slovakia extant vagrant
Slovenia extant native yes
Somalia extant native
South Africa extant native yes
Spain extant native yes yes
Sri Lanka extant native
Sudan extant native yes
Sweden extant vagrant
Switzerland extant vagrant
Syria extant native yes yes
Tajikistan extant vagrant
Tanzania extant native
Tunisia extant native yes
Türkiye extant native yes yes
Turkmenistan extant native
Uganda extant native
United Arab Emirates extant native yes yes yes
Uzbekistan extant native
Western Sahara extant native
Yemen extant native yes yes
Zambia extant native
Zimbabwe extant native

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Afghanistan Ab-i-Istada
Afghanistan Dashte Nawar
Algeria Chott Merouane et Oued Khrouf
Algeria Garaet et-Tarf
Algeria Sebkha d'Oran
Algeria Sebkhet Baker
Algeria Sebkhet Djendli
Azerbaijan Gizilagach
Botswana Makgadikgadi Pans
Cyprus Akrotiri Peninsula - Episkopi Cliffs
Cyprus Larnaca Salt Lakes
Djibouti Lac Abhé
Egypt El Malaha
Egypt Lake Bardawil
Egypt Zaranik Protected Area
Ethiopia Abijatta - Shalla Lakes National Park
France Camargue
France Cordon lagunaire de Sète à Agde
France Etangs de Canet et de Villeneuve-de-la-Raho et embouchure du Tech
France Etangs de Citis, Lavalduc, Engrenier, Pourra, l'Estomac, Fos et salines de Rassuen et de Fos
France Etangs de Leucate et Lapalme
France Etangs Montpellierains
France Etangs Narbonnais
France Petite Camargue fluvio-lacustre
France Petite Camargue laguno-marine
France Salins d'Hyères et de Pesquiers
Greece Evros delta
Greece Kalloni Gulf, Lesvos
Greece Lake Ismarida (Mitrikou)
Greece Lakes Chortarolimni and Alyki, Moudros gulf, Diapori fen and Fakos peninsula, Limnos
Greece Lakes Volvi, Koroneia and Rentina Gorge
Greece Porto Lagos, lake Vistonida and coastal lagoons
Guinea Iles Tristao
Guinea-Bissau Arquipélago dos Bijagós
Guinea-Bissau Cantanhez forests
India Kaliveli Tank and Yeduyanthittu estuary
India Mahul - Sewree Creek
India Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary
India Sambhar Lake
India Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary
India Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary
Iran, Islamic Republic of Arjan Protected Area
Iran, Islamic Republic of Gomishan marshes and Turkoman steppes
Iran, Islamic Republic of Kaftar lake
Iran, Islamic Republic of Lake Bakhtegan, Lake Tashk and Kamjan marshes
Iran, Islamic Republic of Lake Kobi
Iran, Islamic Republic of Lake Uromiyeh
Iran, Islamic Republic of Miankaleh Peninsula and Gorgan Bay
Iran, Islamic Republic of Shadegan marshes and tidal mudflats of Khor-al Amaya and Khor Musa
Iraq Razzaza Lake
Italy Argentario, Laguna di Orbetello Lagoon e Lago di Burano
Italy Cagliari wetlands
Italy Colostrai pool
Italy Gargano Promontory and Capitanata Wetlands
Italy Palmas Gulf wetlands
Italy Sinis and Oristano wetlands
Italy Tarquinia saltpans
Kazakhstan Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve
Kenya Lake Bogoria National Reserve
Kenya Lake Elmenteita
Kenya Lake Nakuru National Park
Kenya Lake Turkana
Kenya Tana River Delta
Libya Benghazi
Madagascar Lakes Anony and Erombo
Madagascar Mahavavy - Kinkony wetlands NPA
Mauritania Aftout Es Sâheli
Mauritania Banc d'Arguin National Park
Mauritania Diawling National Park
Montenegro Ulcinj saltpans
Morocco Baie d'Ad Dakhla
Morocco Lagune de Khnifiss
Morocco Marais Larache
Morocco Merja Zerga
Morocco Sebkha Bou Areg
Morocco Sebkha Zima
Namibia Cape Cross lagoon
Namibia Etosha National Park
Namibia Mile 4 saltworks
Namibia Sandwich Harbour
Namibia Tsumkwe pan system
Namibia Walvis Bay
Oman Barr al Hikman
Pakistan Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary
Portugal Castro Marim
Portugal Mondego Estuary
Portugal Ria Formosa (Faro lagoon)
Portugal Salinas de Alverca e do Forte da Casa
Portugal Tejo estuary
Qatar Khor al-Udeid
Senegal Delta du Saloum
Senegal Djoudj wetlands
Senegal Parc National de Basse Casamance
South Africa Barberspan and Leeupan
South Africa Berg River Estuary
South Africa Chrissie Pans
South Africa De Hoop Nature Reserve
South Africa False Bay Nature Reserve
South Africa iSimangaliso Wetland Park
South Africa Kamfers Dam
South Africa Sandveld and Bloemhof Dam Nature Reserves
South Africa West Coast National Park and Saldanha Bay islands
Spain Cádiz bay
Spain Ebro delta
Spain El Hondo wetland
Spain Fuente de Piedra, Gosque and Campillos lakes
Spain Guadalquivir marshes
Spain Mountain range and saltpans at Cabo de Gata
Spain Odiel and Tinto marshes and Huelva coastal lagoons
Spain Santa Pola salt-pans
Syria Sabkhat al-Jabboul
Tanzania Lake Balangida Lelu
Tanzania Lake Burungi
Tanzania Lake Eyasi
Tanzania Lake Kitangire
Tanzania Lake Manyara
Tanzania Singida lakes
Tunisia Chott Djerid
Tunisia Côte de Zerkine et El Grine
Tunisia Côtes de l'Île de Djerba
Tunisia Garaet Douza
Tunisia Golfe de Boughrara
Tunisia Ichkeul
Tunisia Îles Kerkennah
Tunisia Îles Kneiss
Tunisia Lac de Tunis
Tunisia Lagune El Bibane
Tunisia Salines de Monastir
Tunisia Salines de Thyna
Tunisia Sebkhet Ennoual
Tunisia Sebkhet Halk el Menzel
Tunisia Sebkhet Kelbia
Tunisia Sebkhet Sejoumi
Tunisia Sebkhet Sidi El Hani
Tunisia Sebkhet Sidi Khelifa
Tunisia Sebkhet Sidi Mansour
Türkiye Acıgöl Lake
Türkiye Burdur Lake
Türkiye Büyük Menderes Delta
Türkiye Ceyhan Delta
Türkiye Çöl Lake and Çalıkdüzü
Türkiye Ereğli Plain
Türkiye Gediz Delta
Türkiye Gökçeada Lagoon
Türkiye Göksu Delta
Türkiye Kulu Lake
Türkiye Seyfe Lake
Türkiye Seyhan Delta
Türkiye Sultan Marsh
Türkiye Tersakan Lake
Türkiye Tuz Lake
Turkmenistan Ekerem - Esenguly
Turkmenistan Turkmenbashy Bay
United Arab Emirates Abu Al Sayayif
United Arab Emirates Al Wathba
United Arab Emirates Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary (Khor Dubai)
Uzbekistan Sudochye Lake
Yemen Aden

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Marine Neritic Estuaries major breeding
Marine Neritic Estuaries major non-breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Lakes major breeding
Wetlands (inland) Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Lakes major non-breeding
Altitude   Occasional altitudinal limits  

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Food - human subsistence, national
Pets/display animals, horticulture international

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/greater-flamingo-phoenicopterus-roseus on 23/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/12/2024.