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A bird of the genus Phoenicopterus, formerly placed in the order Grallatores, but now generally ranked among the Natatores or Palmipedes, and constituting a family Phoenicopteridae, allied to the Anatidae. Its body is smaller than that of the stork, but owing to the great length of the neck and legs it stands from 5 to 6 feet high. The beak is naked, lamellate at the edges, and bent as if broken; the feet are palmated and four-toed. The common flamingo occurs abundantly in various parts of Southern Europe. This bird resembles the heron in shape, but is entirely scarlet, except the quill feathers, which are jet black. The tongue is fleshy, and one of the extravagances of the Romans during the later period of the empire was to have dishes composed solely of flamingoes tongues.

A wading bird of a bright red color.

A longnecked, small bodied bird of a red color, having very long legs, webbed feet, and a bent bill. See illus. in next column.

n. [Latin] A bird of the order Grallus, native of Africa and Southern America, of a bright red colour, having long legs and neck, and a beak bent down as if broken.