The best time to see flamingos in Algarve?

From November and March is the best time to see Flamingos, although it can be found all year round. 

During these months, the flamingos can be seen in large flocks, with up to several hundred birds congregating in the shallow waters. It’s an incredible sight, and one that shouldn’t be missed by anyone visiting the region.

Which specie can be found in Algarve?

The greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) is the largest of the flamingo species and can be found throughout Africa, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and, of course, Southern Europe. This large wading bird can grow in excess of 150cm tall and weigh more than 4kg. 

A little bit about Flamingos

These birds like shallow waters, where they can find food, especially micro shrimp, which give them pink color. There are a lot of salt pools in Ria Formosa, which used for salt production. Flamingos like these salt flats and birds poo is also beneficial for production. Pools rich in micro shrimp has a bit of orange color.

The pink color of Flamingo

Flamingo starts to be pink at 4 years old. But nowadays in the wild it’s not easy to meet wholly pink flamingos, as the environment isn’t so rich anymore. Without micro shrimp and other carotenoids  (algae, crustaceans, molluscs) Flamingos can not becoming brightly colored.

Usually in Ria Formosa We meet flamingos just with the pink wings In zoos Flamingos are fed with a specific diet, so they are pink.

Guided Flamingo watching

There are Flamingo tours and bird watching tours in the different locations in the eastern Algarve. You can book them on our website as well. Here is one of them.

Definitely seeing Flamingos in wild brings totally different feeling, than in the  zoos in (smaller or bigger) cages.