The very long legs and long neck are characteristic. In flight, shows brilliant red patches in the forewings. It differs from Lesser Flamingo in being larger and paler pink, and in having a pink (not dark red) bill with a black tip.
Juvenile is dull brown, beconing paler with age. Juvenile and immature are readily distinguished from juvenile and immature Lesser Flamingo by the back-tipped grey bill.
Shallow, freshwater lakes, salt pans, estuaries and open coast.
Their food is filtered from the bottom sediments (mud).
A 'Honk, honk' not sounding unlike a farmyard goose.