Why can't flamingos fly?

Question

My friend Taylor wants to know. lol.

Answer 1

They can and do, unless they're in a zoo. If they're in a zoo, their wings are either clipped or pinioned.

Pinioned? That's when they remove the tip of the wingbone, it has the same effect as clipping the wings, but you don't have to keep up with it.

Answer 2

flamingos do fly

http://www.hickerphoto.com/data/media/40...

http://www.hickerphoto.com/greater-flami...

Answer 3

Your friend Taylor must be talking about the species that is found in the front yards of many people in the Burbs. They don't fly much or eat much, but they do look lovely.

Answer 4

They do, all the time, usually at night, at least in Africa.  And they follow the rains, and the brine shrimp in the lakes... I'm most familiar with those in Kenya.  Lived there...so your friend is, either young, uninformed, or an idiot.

Answer 5

Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) fly very well. Here are some images of them airborne.

http://images.google.com/images?q=flamin...

http://photography.nationalgeographic.co...

http://goafrica.about.com/od/namibiaatra...

Answer 6

wild flamingos can fly.

the ones at the zoo and such must have their wings clipped.

Answer 7

Because when asked to go to rehab they said no no no

Answer 8

Umm... they definitely can fly!!

Answer 9

Flamingos are actually capable of flying. So Taylor is wrong.

Answer 10

Flamingos can fly.

Answer 11

They can fly.

Answer 12

Because they aren't meant to fly they are meant to glide thats why they are on small rivers and ponds

Answer 13

Their wing size in comparison to their body mass does not allow flight.

Answer 14

They do fly, check the link.Seriously haven't you seen the lion king, they fly in that too.

Answer 15

uhh i thought Penguins were the only birds that couldn't fly? lmaoo

Answer 16

They can fly, but aren't really built for high or long distance flying, so they mostly just glide a bit.

Answer 17

Yes, Greater flamingos fly about 350 miles per night during migration.