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Flamingos

There are 6 species (types) of flamingo.  They can be found in Africa, Asia, Europe, South America and Central America.  They live in big groups; often more than a thousand. Living together in such big groups helps them stay safe, especially when they’re raising their chicks. 

Flamingos live in wetlands and make their nests out of mud. Young flamingos are born with grey feathers which turn pink as they get older.  Flamingos are pink because of what they eat.

In total there are over 5 million flamingos in the world but they only breed (lay eggs and raise chicks) in less than 30 places. WWT is helping to protect flamingos by breeding them at WWT centres so we can understand more about these birds.  

Where to see flamingos and find out more

You can see flamingos up close and personally at WWT Martin Mere, Washington, Llanelli and Slimbridge.  WWT Slimbridge is the only place in Europe where you can see all 6 species of flamingo.

The Crimson Wing is a film about the 1 million flamingos which breed each year in Tanzania (Africa) on Lake Natron.  There are plans to build factories and mines around this lake to dig for chemicals which we use in medicines and washing powders.  If this happens the flamingos will be at risk.  They may suffer from the chemicals or if they are disturbed by the mining they might not breed.