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What the sources say

Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseus

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Greater Flamingo profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 44 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Flamingo. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

The page saysa one-legged stance scientists aren't sure about
The source saysWhy do flamingos stand on one leg? Scientists aren't sure.Note: tagline
The page saysthe world's six flamingo species
The source saysGENUS AND SPECIES: Phoenicopterus roseus (greater flamingo), Phoenicopterus chilensis (Chilean flamingo), Phoeniconaias minor (lesser flamingo), Phoenicoparrus andinus (Andean flamingo), Phoenicoparrus jamesi (puna or James’s flamingo), Phoenicopterus ruber (American or Caribbean flamingo)Note: SDZ's Flamingo page lists exactly these six species.
The page saysthe tallest and heaviest
The source saysHeight: Tallest - greater flamingo, 3.9 to 4.7 feet (120 to 145 centimeters) ... Weight: Heaviest - greater flamingo, 4.6 to 9 pounds (2.1 to 4.1 kilograms)
The page saysadults stand 3.9 to 4.7 feet (120 to 145 centimeters) tall
The source saysHeight: Tallest - greater flamingo, 3.9 to 4.7 feet (120 to 145 centimeters)
The page saysweigh 4.6 to 9 pounds (2.1 to 4.1 kilograms)
The source saysWeight: Heaviest - greater flamingo, 4.6 to 9 pounds (2.1 to 4.1 kilograms)Note: SDZ (current) overrides ADW's older 1.9 to 3 kg.
The page saysFlamingos live 20 to 30 years in the wild, and a zoo bird can go much longer
The source saysLIFE SPAN 20 to 30 years in the wild; up to 50 years in zoosNote: SDZ's lifespan line covers all flamingos, so the sentence says "Flamingos". ADW's older greater-flamingo account gives the same average ("20 to 30 years in captivity and the wild").
The page saysFlamingos suck water and mud in at the front of the bill, then pump it out at the sides, where plates called lamellae act like tiny filters
The source saysFlamingos feed by sucking water and mud in at the front of the bill and then pumping it out again at the sides. Here, briny plates called lamellae act like tiny filtersNote: SDZ describes flamingos generally, so the sentence says "Flamingos".
The page saysThe One-Leg Mystery Scientists aren't sure why flamingos stand on one leg.
The source saysWhy do flamingos stand on one leg? Scientists aren't sure.Note: Blockquote bold lead-in concatenated with its first sentence.
The page saysOne idea is that tucking the free leg against the body cuts heat loss, but the habit also shows up in hot climates
The source saysThere is less heat lost through the leg if it is tucked next to the bird's body; however, this behavior is also seen in hot climates.
The page saysAnother idea is simpler: standing that way is probably just comfortable
The source saysAnother explanation is more mundane: it's probably a comfortable position for standing.
The page saysFlamingos get their pink from carotenoids, pigments like the ones in carrots, found in the algae and small crustaceans they eat
The source saysThe flamingo’s pink or reddish color comes from the rich sources of carotenoid pigments (like the pigments of carrots) in the algae and small crustaceans the birds eat.Note: SDZ covers all flamingos, so the sentence says "Flamingos".
The page saysFlamingo group displays follow set moves with names like head-flagging, wing salutes, twist-preens, and marching, and the flocks can number in the thousands
The source saysFlamingos are social birds that live in groups of varying sizes, from a few pairs to sometimes thousands or tens of thousands. Their numbers add to the impressiveness of ritualized flamingo displays ... Head-flagging: Stretching the neck ... Wing salute: Showing off the contrasting colors ... Twist-preen: The bird twists its neck back and appears to preen ... Marching: The large, tightly packed flock walks together as oneNote: SDZ describes flamingos generally, so the sentence says "Flamingo".
The page saysFlamingo chicks are fed "crop milk," a milky fluid from the parents' upper digestive tract that both mothers and fathers can provide
The source saysthe chick is fed a type of “milk” called crop milk that comes from the parents’ upper digestive tract ... Both males and females can feed the chick this way ... continue to feed their chick with the milky secretion
The page saysFeeding it drains a parent's color so much that its plumage can turn pale pink or white
The source saysAs the parents feed their chicks the crop milk, they are drained of their color—so much so that their plumage turns a pale pink or white!
The page saysChicks soon leave the nest for a crèche, a flamingo daycare watched over by a few adults
The source saysAfter hatching, the chick stays on the nest mound for 5 to 12 days. ... Chicks flock together in large groups called crèches, looked after by a few adults
The page saysScientists aren't sure. One idea is that tucking the free leg up against the body cuts heat loss, but flamingos also do it in hot climates. Another idea is simpler: standing that way is probably just comfortable.
The source saysWhy do flamingos stand on one leg? Scientists aren't sure. There is less heat lost through the leg if it is tucked next to the bird's body; however, this behavior is also seen in hot climates. Another explanation is more mundane: it's probably a comfortable position for standing.Note: FAQ 2
The page saysCrop milk is a milky fluid that comes from a flamingo parent's upper digestive tract. Both males and females can feed their chick this way, and even flamingos that are not the parents can act as foster-feeders. Feeding a chick this way drains the parents of their color, so much that their feathers can turn pale pink or white.
The source saysthe chick is fed a type of “milk” called crop milk that comes from the parents’ upper digestive tract. ... Both males and females can feed the chick this way, and even flamingos that are not the parents can act as foster-feeders. ... As the parents feed their chicks the crop milk, they are drained of their color—so much so that their plumage turns a pale pink or white!Note: FAQ 3

Source
02

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Phoenicopterus roseus (greater flamingo). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysPink from pigments in its food
The source saysThe algae they consume help them maintain the pink tones in their plumage. ... not having enough carotenoids in their diet to change their colorNote: tagline. Reviewer replaced "stolen pigment": the pigment is eaten, and nothing is taken from anyone.
The page saysa filter-feeding bill that works upside down
The source saysThey have a shallow keeled bill, which helps them filter feed. ... Because of the shape of the bill, greater flamingos are forced to bend so that the head is upside down in the waterNote: tagline
The page saysThe species ranges from West Africa and parts of Europe through the Middle East to South and Southwest Asia
The source saysGreater flamingos are found in the middle east, including Iran, Turkey, Dubai, Oman, and Afghanistan. They are also common in south and southwest Asia. Greater flamingos are also found at lower densities in west Africa ... and numerous locations around Europe, such as Italy, Greece, and France.Note: "parts of Europe" is ADW's "numerous locations around Europe"; the writer's "Mediterranean" was not the source's word.
The page saysIt mainly lives in the shallow water of lagoons, lakes, estuaries, and muddy beaches, where the water is very salty or extremely alkaline (the chemical opposite of acidic), with a pH of up to 11
The source saysThey are mainly found in shallow waters of lagoons, lakes, estuaries, and muddy beaches. These waters all have a very high salt content or they are extremely alkaline, with a pH up to 11.Note: "the chemical opposite of acidic" is a first-use definition of alkaline, not a claim about the flamingo.
The page saysBecause of the shape of its bill, a greater flamingo has to feed with its head upside down in the water
The source saysBecause of the shape of the bill, greater flamingos are forced to bend so that the head is upside down in the water, using their long neck and bill to dig into the mud at the bottom of the water to feed.
The page saysThe greater flamingo's catch includes algae, brine shrimp, and chironomid ("lake fly") larvae
The source saysthey tend to consume organisms that are commonly found there, like algae, diatoms, crustaceans, insect larvae, and mollusks ... Their diet also includes brine shrimp (Artemia selina), chironomid larvae or "lake flies" (Chironomidae)
The page saysA breeding pair builds a nest mound, usually of mud
The source saysA pair of flamingos build a nest, usually made of mud and other materials, on an island or the coastline of a lake. The mound of mud is hardened by the sun
The page saysThe female lays a single egg, and both parents take turns sitting on it for 27 to 31 days
The source sayshas a concave center for a single egg. The incubation time of the egg is 27 to 31 days. Both the male and female take turns incubating the egg.Note: "sitting on it" is a plain-words paraphrase of incubating. SDZ (current) gives the same 27 to 31 days for flamingos.
The page saysBecause of the shape of its bill, a greater flamingo has to bend so that its head is upside down in the water. It uses its long neck and bill to dig into the mud at the bottom, then filters out what lives there, such as algae, crustaceans, insect larvae, and mollusks.
The source saysBecause of the shape of the bill, greater flamingos are forced to bend so that the head is upside down in the water, using their long neck and bill to dig into the mud at the bottom of the water to feed. Because they filter prey from the mud, they tend to consume organisms that are commonly found there, like algae, diatoms, crustaceans, insect larvae, and mollusks.Note: FAQ 1. Ref moved from sdz-flamingo, which never names algae or diatoms as greater flamingo food, to ADW, which also answers the question's "why".
The page saysShallow lagoons, lakes, estuaries, and muddy beaches with very salty or extremely alkaline water (up to pH 11)
The source saysThey are mainly found in shallow waters of lagoons, lakes, estuaries, and muddy beaches. These waters all have a very high salt content or they are extremely alkaline, with a pH up to 11.Note: stats.habitat
The page saysfrom West Africa and parts of Europe to the Middle East and South Asia
The source saysGreater flamingos are found in the middle east, including Iran, Turkey, Dubai, Oman, and Afghanistan. They are also common in south and southwest Asia. Greater flamingos are also found at lower densities in west Africa ... and numerous locations around Europe, such as Italy, Greece, and France.Note: stats.habitat range
The page saysA filter-feeding bill that works with the head upside down
The source saysThey have a shallow keeled bill, which helps them filter feed. ... Because of the shape of the bill, greater flamingos are forced to bend so that the head is upside down in the waterNote: stats.superpower. The writer's "built to work in soda lakes" linked the bill to the water with a cause no source gives.
The page saysin water with a pH of up to 11
The source saysThese waters all have a very high salt content or they are extremely alkaline, with a pH up to 11.Note: stats.superpower
The page saysAlgae, diatoms, brine shrimp, and chironomid ("lake fly") larvae filtered from mud and shallow water
The source saysBecause they filter prey from the mud, they tend to consume organisms that are commonly found there, like algae, diatoms, crustaceans, insect larvae, and mollusks ... Their diet also includes brine shrimp (Artemia selina), chironomid larvae or "lake flies" (Chironomidae)Note: stats.diet

Source
03

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources

Phoenicopterus roseus. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.

The page saysone wild-born male greater flamingo was estimated at 58.8 years old and was still alive at London Zoo in 2020
The source saysOne wild-born male specimen was estimated to be 58.8 years of age and still alive at London Zoo in 2020 (Zoe Bryant, pers. comm.).
The page saysThe AnAge ageing database lists a maximum lifespan in captivity of 58.8 years, from a wild-born male at London Zoo that was estimated to be that old and still alive in 2020. An Adelaide Zoo flamingo was reportedly 83 when it died in 2014, but that age has not been confirmed.
The source saysMaximum longevity 58.8 years (captivity) ... One wild-born male specimen was estimated to be 58.8 years of age and still alive at London Zoo in 2020 (Zoe Bryant, pers. comm.). ... One specimen at Adelaide Zoo was reportedly 83 years of age when it died in 2014, having arrived at the zoo in 1933, though this has not been confirmed.Note: FAQ 4

Source
04

Sandri et al. 2017

Sandri et al. (2017). How to be a great dad: parental care in a flock of greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus). PeerJ.

The page saysIn a study of one zoo flock in Italy, males spent more time than females on and near the nest, and were more aggressive toward other flamingos there
The source saysa captive colony of greater flamingo hosted at Parco Natura Viva, an Italian zoological garden ... males spent more time than females on the nest ( P = 0.010) and near it ( P = 0.0001) and were more aggressive toward other flamingos than females, both when sitting on the nest ( P = 0.003) and when near the nest ( P = 0.0003).
The page saysIn wild greater flamingos, hatching success is about 30%, because predators and other threats are common. Those threats are almost absent in captivity
The source saysIn wild greater flamingos, the hatchling success is about 30% due to a high frequency of predation and other threats, almost absent in captivity (Brown & King, 2005).Note: Sandri et al. cite this from the AZA/EAZA Flamingo Husbandry Guidelines (Brown & King 2005); it is a secondary figure.
The page saysin the Italian zoo flock, 77% of breeding pairs had a chick
The source saysIn the current study, 77% of the breeding pairs had a chick.

Source
05

Perrot et al. 2016

Perrot et al. (2016). Sexual display complexity varies non-linearly with age and predicts breeding status in greater flamingos. Scientific Reports.

The page saysResearchers scoring wild greater flamingos aged 4 to 37 found their displays grew more complex until about age 20 and less complex after that
The source saysof wild flamingos aged between 4 and 37 yrs ... age had a quadratic effect, with SDC increasing until about age 20yrs, and declining afterwards
The page saysBirds with more complex, varied displays were more likely to breed
The source saysSDC was defined as the product of richness (the number of different display movements) and versatility (the number of transitions between movements) ... positively influenced the probability of becoming a breeder.Note: The writer's "pair up" was cut: "SDC better explained pairing patterns than age" is about who pairs with whom (assortative mating), not the odds of pairing.

Source
06

Amat et al. 2010

Amat et al. (2010). Greater flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus use uropygial secretions as make-up. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.

The page saysA greater flamingo also spreads preen oil, an oily fluid its own body makes, over its feathers. The oil carries the same carotenoids as the feathers, so it makes them more colorful, like makeup
The source saysThe presence of carotenoids in preen oils ... here we confirm for the first time its presence in such oils. Moreover, the carotenoids in the uropygial secretions were the same specific pigments found in feathers. We show not only that the colour of feathers of greater flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus became more colourful due to the application of carotenoids from uropygial secretions over the plumage ... thus providing evidence of cosmetic coloration.
The page saysOne study found greater flamingos do this much more often while displaying in groups than during the rest of the year
The source saysFlamingos used uropygial secretions as cosmetic much more frequently during periods when they were displaying in groups than during the rest of the year
The page saysbirds with more colorful plumage started nesting earlier
The source saysIndividuals with more colourful plumage initiated nesting earlier.
The page saysit spreads preen oil carrying the same carotenoid pigments as its feathers over its plumage
The source saysthe carotenoids in the uropygial secretions were the same specific pigments found in feathers. We show not only that the colour of feathers of greater flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus became more colourful due to the application of carotenoids from uropygial secretions over the plumageNote: vibe.reason; replaces 'elegant retro coastal nostalgia', a place and mood clause (#218)
The page saysmost often while displaying in groups
The source saysFlamingos used uropygial secretions as cosmetic much more frequently during periods when they were displaying in groups than during the rest of the yearNote: vibe.reason

Source
07

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021

Phoenicopterus roseus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T22697360A166321997.

The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysLeast ConcernNote: stats.conservationStatus; verified against GBIF's copy of the 2020/2021 Red List assessment for Phoenicopterus roseus.

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.