Flamingos are one of the most flamboyant bird species in the world. Their favorite habitats are briny marsh areas where they feed on shrimp, krill, crayfish and algae. The feathers of the Flamingo species can fluctuate from deep iridescent pink to a soft blush white depending on their diet of carotenoids that are found in shrimp and krill that affect the color of the feathers.
Flamingos can be found in the following regions: Caribbean, South America, Middle East and Europe.
The Caribbean
The American Flamingo is a native on many of the Caribbean Islands including the Bahamas, Aruba and Cuba plus they can be found along Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico to Venezuela and Colombia in South America. Sometimes they even travel further to north, where they can be seen in the National Park Everglades.
Top Flamingo Destination to visit in the Caribbean – Inagua Island Bahamas
South America
The native flamingo types are: Puna, Chilean and Andean flamingo plus American flamingo too. they are all residents here, and it would depend on the specie regarding the linking to their habitat- starting from a coastal marsh to a mountain plateau. The popular spot to see a flamingo here is Laguna Colorada in Bolivia, and the wild types are commonly noted in northeast Chile, Argentina, Venezuela and Ecuador.
Top Flamingo Destination to visit in South America – Lago Argentina, Patagonia
Middle East
After the breeding season ends, the flamingos can be seen migrating to the Middle East. They migrate to areas like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Qatar and Turkey but, to a much lesser extent, they can be seen in Kazakhstan as well, even though their populations have a noticeable decrease there.
Top Flamingo Destination to visit in the Middle East – Lake Tuz Turkey
Europe
Flamingos can also be found near the Mediterranean. The greater ones are often sighted near the south Mediterranean Sea area that spreads from Tunisia all the way to Egypt, and in quite large numbers. A major breeding area is located in Southern France where the Rhone River flows to the Mediterranean Sea. Over 20,000 pairs of flamingos are estimated to breed in the area.
Top Flamingo Destination to visit in Europe – The Camargue of Languedoc France
Such elegant birds