For the most part, Flamingos aren’t dangerous. They’ll mind their own business and leave humans and other animals alone. However, you should stay focused when you’re near or around flamingos. Especially if you have kids with you.
Why?
That’s what we’re going to explore today. We’ll also explore some other interesting questions about flamingos, such as:
- Do flamingos get aggressive?
- Can you touch a flamingo?
- Can flamingos kill you?
- How dangerous are flamingos?
Finally, we’ll look at the different species of flamingos and determine which species you have to be the most careful around and why. Let’s get started.
Do Flamingos Get Aggressive?
Unfortunately, even though flamingos are not dangerous, they have been known to get aggressive.
However, generally speaking, they won’t get aggressive with you or your children unless they sense you’re a danger to them first — which is very unlikely to happen.
A flamingo may consider you a danger if:
- You get close to its nest.
- It senses you’re a danger to its food.
- You touch the flamingo or get too close to it.
However, like with any animal, flamingos can be unpredictable, so you need to be careful around them. Especially if you have youngsters with you:
In the above video, you saw an incident in Sarasota, Florida. While the flamingo seemed calm, it suddenly (and unexpectedly) bit a young girl on her head. There was no lasting damage, but we imagine it gave the little girl quite the scare.
This video shows that flamingos can be aggressive even though they aren’t inherently dangerous. And while you have very little to worry about as an adult, you still need to keep an eye on your young ones when near flamingos — even if the birds seem calm.
Can I Touch a Flamingo?
It is possible to touch a flamingo, but they might not like it. In fact, they might even find it provocative, leading to aggressive behavior.
Therefore, never touch a flamingo unless you’ve got permission from the sanctuary or habitat you’re visiting. Even then, only approach the flamingo and touch it with care.
That said, many locations that house flamingos, including the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat in Las Vegas, have explicit rules disallowing you from touching their flamingos.
Similarly, if you see a flamingo in the wild, your best bet is to keep your distance. It isn’t necessarily dangerous to approach them, but in doing so, you do risk straying into a flamingo nest. As we mentioned above, flamingos will get aggressive if you get too close to their nest. Therefore, your best bet is to keep your distance from them.
Can Flamingos kill you?
There haven’t been any reported incidents of a flamingo killing a human. In fact, a human being killed by a bird is incredibly rare.
One notable incident happened in 2019 when a Cassowary killed a Florida man.
However, cassowaries are worlds apart from flamingos — they’re considered the most dangerous bird in the world.
That said, like flamingos, cassowaries will only get aggressive if provoked first, so you have nothing to worry about if you’re careful around them.
You definitely don’t have to worry about being killed by a flamingo.
How dangerous are Flamingos?
Flamingos aren’t dangerous at all. They might peck or bite you, but there have never been any reported incidents of anyone being severely injured or killed by a flamingo.
That said, if we were to say which flamingo is the most dangerous, it’s the Greater flamingo due to its large size and weight.
Let’s compare the size, weight, and characteristics of several flamingos below:
Greater Flamingo
Type: Old World
Average size: 59 inches
Average weight: Up to 4 kg
Danger level: Low
The greater flamingo is the largest flamingo on this list. You can find them in both Europe and Africa, and they’re recognizable from their large size, their beaks with black tips, and the reddish colors in their feathers.
Chilean Flamingo
Type: New World
Average size: 51 inches
Average weight: 2.3 kg
Danger level: Low
You can find Chilean flamingos in the more temperate parts of South America. They’re slighter smaller than greater flamingos and can be recognized by the noticeable joints on their legs.
Lesser Flamingo
Type: Old World
Average size: 31 inches
Average weight: Up to 2.7 kg
Danger level: Low
Lesser flamingos are the smallest on this list and can be found in Africa and India. Their beak dips downwards more sharply than greater flamingos. Also, note how they have red on their beak — something greater and Chilean flamingos don’t have.
James's Flamingo
Type: New World
Average size: 36 inches
Average weight: Up to 2 kg
Danger level: Low
James’s flamingos can be recognized by the dark streaks of pink running down their neck and back. Their beak also doesn’t curve down as sharply as any other flamingos on this list. You can find them in Argentina, Peru, and Chile.
American Flamingo
Type: New World
Average size: 42 inches
Average weight: Up to 3.6 kg
Danger level: Low
American flamingoes are almost as large as greater flamingos, and you can find them in Southern Florida, Mexico, and Brazil. You can recognize them from their large size, dark colors, and thick feathers.
Andean Flamingo
Type: New World
Average size: 40 inches
Average weight: Up to 4.9 kg
Danger level: Low
You can find the final flamingo on this list in the High Andes, Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. The best way to recognize them is by their pale beak color — something that other flamingos on this list don’t have.
Learn More About the Wonderful World of Birding
…And that’s it! Overall, flamingos aren’t dangerous, but you shouldn’t get complacent when you’re around them.
If you want to learn even more about birding, check out Happy Birding today.
For example, have you ever wondered if birds can eat bananas? Or perhaps you want to know the different types of Orioles?
Alternatively, take our birding quiz to show us your expert knowledge. See you there!
Sam is a nature enthusiast who’s been birdwatching in both the old and new world. He even enjoys an annual tradition of watching kittiwakes nesting on the cliffs of Southern England