A group of flamingos is called a flamboyance, one of the most delightfully fitting collective nouns in the animal kingdom. Flamingos are famous for their vivid pink plumage, dramatic curved necks, and eye-catching, synchronized courtship displays, making “flamboyance” an obvious choice for a term that had to live up to their reputation.
The bright pink color that defines a flamboyance of flamingos actually comes from their diet. Flamingos eat algae and crustaceans rich in carotenoid pigments, the same compounds that give carrots their orange color, and over time this pigment builds up in their feathers. Flamingos raised without access to these foods, such as in some zoos, can actually appear pale or white until their diet is adjusted.
Beyond their striking looks, flamboyances of flamingos are also known for elaborate group courtship dances, where large numbers of birds march, head-flag, and strut in unison, a spectacle that makes the term “flamboyance” feel less like exaggeration and more like simple accuracy.