- fossil record reveals that flamingolike birds were in existence during
the Eocene period 50 million years ago. - Spread across Eurasia, North America and Australia, the modern flamingo had appeared in the early Oligocene (about 30 million years ago)
- All but one of the Australian species were extinct by the late Pleistocene (11,000 years ago) Only the greater flamingo (larger flamingos) had spread to Asia, sparing it from the fate of the other Australian flamingo species.
- The word "flamingo" comes from the Spanish and Latin word "flamenco" which means fire, and refers to the bright color of the birds' feathers.
Phoenicopterus is the genus meaning "purple wing"