The Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) is the most widely distributed flamingo species. It is found in parts of Africa, Asia and southern Europe.
Flamingos breed in often large colonies on flat islands, large muddy beaches, salty lakes and bays. These sites must offer them the necessary food and protection from predators. Because of these constraints, the number of breeding colonies of international importance does not exceed thirty.
The world population is estimated at around 500,000 individuals, including some 90,000 in Europe. Due to the lack of data, no demographic trends are available on a global scale. In the Camargue, one of Europe's most important breeding areas, the number of breeding pairs never exceeded 4,000 between 1947 and 1960; it subsequently increased and, since the early 1990s, there have been over 10,000 pairs. However, the population fluctuates wildly from year to year. For example, 11,000 pairs bred in 1999, and 22,200 the following year.
Since the 1980s, pink flamingos have been observed in unusual parts of Europe: northern France, the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany. The origin of these flamingos is uncertain, but as it is very rare to observe flamingos more than 500 kilometers north of the Mediterranean coast, it is likely that they have escaped from captivity, or are the offspring of such animals. Flamingos have successfully raised their offspring in the Zwillbrocker Venn, on the border between Germany and the Netherlands: this is the most northerly breeding colony of the species.
