The family Phoenicopteridae, within the order Phoenicopteriformes, comprises the flamingos, distinctive wading birds known for their long legs, slender necks, and striking pink to reddish plumage derived from carotenoid-rich diets. Flamingos inhabit saline or alkaline lakes, lagoons, and estuaries across parts of Africa, southern Europe, Asia, and the Americas. They are highly social, forming large colonies that can number in the thousands, and feed by filter-feeding with their specialized, down-curved bills that separate small organisms like algae, crustaceans, and plankton from the water. Their unique behaviors, such as synchronized group displays, play an important role in courtship and colony cohesion.