The Flamingo — Phœnicopterus Roseus, Pallas
This curious and well-known bird is only a very rare straggler to our shores. It breeds in the Camargue district at the mouth of the Rhone as well as in Spain, but its main breeding grounds are in Africa. It nests in colonies, the nests being conical structures, formed of mud, built near the edge of the water. It is now definitely ascertained that it sits with its long legs doubled up, and not straddle-legged as was stated by early travellers. The food consists of minute crustacea and other insects.
The adult is of a pale rose pink all over, darker on the wing coverts. The quills are black. Legs pink; bill rosy, with black tip. The young are of a pale mottled brown. Length about 5 ft.; wing 15 in.