flamingo

American  

[fluh-ming-goh] / fləˈmɪŋ goʊ /

noun

• flamingos,
  plural
• flamingoes
  plural

1. any of several aquatic birds of the family Phoenicopteridae, having very long legs and neck, webbed feet, a bill bent downward at the tip, and pinkish to scarlet plumage.

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flamingo British  

/ fləˈmɪŋɡəʊ /

noun

1. any large wading bird of the family Phoenicopteridae , having a pink-and-red plumage and downward-bent bill and inhabiting brackish lakes: order Ciconiiformes

2. 1. a reddish-orange colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      flamingo gloves

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• flamingoes
  plural
• flamingos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of flamingo

1555–65; compare Portuguese flamengo, Spanish flamenco literally, Fleming ( cf. flamenco); apparently originally a jocular name, from the conventional Romance image of the Flemish as ruddy-complexioned

Explanation

A flamingo is a large, long-necked pink bird that often stands on one leg. Florida is one of the few places in the U.S. to see flamingos, aside from zoos. Though very few real flamingos are native to North America, you can spot the pink plastic lawn ornament version in front yards from California to Maine. These distinctive birds get their coloring from their food, and when flamingos in zoos aren't fed shrimp, their feathers fade to a white shade, rather than salmon pink. Flamingo is derived from the Spanish flamengo, "flame-colored."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

flamingo flamingoes flamingos

The flamingo flicks through mid-wicket in Test matches and hitting Glenn McGrath back over his head for six at Lord's in 2005.

From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026

I gradually began to realize that despite the flamingo as an organizing symbol, these protests aren’t even really about Sazan or the Zvernec development.

From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026

The golden ticket came gift-wrapped in flamingo pink.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

A decorative flamingo and American flag are viewed at Flamingo Garden Mobile Home Park on July 9.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026

“The magic square? You had me stumped with the flamingo theater. I was like, what in the world is a—” Emily’s brain caught up with her rambling mouth.

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Outrage spread and protesters began filling downtown Tirana carrying signs with images of Kushner, flamingoes, and Trump.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026

The natural world has long been painted with every permutation of pink—whether embedded deep in ancient rock, sported by shrimp-hungry flamingoes, or simply lining the shores of Bermuda’s pink-sand beaches.

From National Geographic ● Jul. 21, 2023

At every turn, the resort has tried to reinvent itself, morphing in the late 1980s into a family-friendly destination, complete with a water park, flamingoes and talking parrots — rebranded “The Island of Las Vegas.”

From New York Times ● Jun. 19, 2023

He added that “not having water in those wetlands means breeding will not take place” since flamingoes need water to create mud nests that keep their eggs away from the intense heat of dry ground.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 19, 2022

Then he arrived at the end of the row, where Pinky and Pinky Too sat, pink as a pair of flamingoes.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

The lake's extreme briny environment sustains algae blooms that attract flamboyances of pink flamingos that thrive in the area.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

Out in the distance, four flamingos were picking their way through the lagoon.

From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026

“If someone lost 142 flamingos, they would notice,” said Jerry Lorenz, a retired research director at Audubon Florida.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

The game's setting of the fictional US state of Leonida, inspired by Florida, also gets some nods in the form of flamingos and alligators.

From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026

The flamingos slept on one leg, their heads under their wings.

From "The Lions of Little Rock" by Kristin Levine