Flamingo

Animal Series

by Caitlin R. Kight

With their distinctive pink coloring and one-legged stance, flamingos are easily the most recognizable bird in the world. Most of us don't know, however, that there are actually six different species of flamingo, each differing in size and hue––and, despite excellent fossil records, scientists have had a difficult time positioning the flamingo within the avian genetic tree. In Flamingo , Caitlin R. Kight untangles the scientific knowledge about this unusual ornithological wonder and looks at how it has figured in popular culture.
    
Kight presents the flamingo in a concise and accessible way, introducing its detailed scientific history alongside what we know about its often hostile habitats and complex social behavior. She explores its genetic lineage and the confusions it has caused, and she details the significance it has had for many cultures, whether as a spiritual totem or a commercial symbol of the tropical life. She even explains how it gets its extraordinary color ( it has to do with its diet). A wonderful resource for any bird lover, Flamingo provides valuable insight into just what makes this flashy-feathered character so special.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature

224 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 2015

Reviews

[Gerhard]

'Like the mythical phoenix for which phoenicopters may have been an inspiration, flamingos have been reincarnated, time and again, in the human consciousness: as a delicious indulgence, a mascot to rally behind, an embodiment of poor taste, and, now, an emblem of awareness for many groups in need – including, sadly, some of the pink birds themselves.'

No mention of the collective noun for flamingos, a fabulosity?

An impeccable combination of research and cultural commentary that is a treasure trove (especially the wonderful in-text citations) for phoenicopteriphiles everywhere.

Leviticus frowned on flamingos, America ended up with tacky flamingo lawn ornaments in the 1960s, and is now reintroducing imperialism to a jaded planet by an orange imperialist?

Clearly, they should have voted for pink.

[Knižný (Valéria Scholtzová)]

Veľmi pekne spracovaná kniha o plameniakoch. Ak viete po anglicky, určite po nej siahnite. Je rozdelená do kapitol, pričom najskôr sa dozvieme základné biologické informácie. Tie sú veľmi zaujímavé, keďže plameniak nielen netradične vyzerá, ale aj netradične žije. Je tam plameniak v minulosti, v umení, samotná kapitola je venovaná plastovej figuríne, ktorá sa stala pre americké domácnosti ikonou. Strany sú pevné, lesklé a kniha obsahuje aj farebnú obrazovú prílohu. Formát je menší, ale vôbec to nevadí. Poobzerám sa aj po ostatných zveroch z tejto edície.

[Kelly Weinersmith]

This book was a lot of fun. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on lawn flamingos.