紅鶴目 Phoenicopteriformes，來自希臘文的 φοῖνιξ phoînix (紅色、胭脂紅、泰爾紫/骨螺紫)，希臘文的 πτερόν pterón (羽毛、翅膀) 和拉丁文的 -fōrmis (形狀)，意思是「紅色的羽毛」，說明所有動物都是紅色為主。Phoenicopteriformes, from Greek φοῖνιξ (phoînix, “red”, “carmin”, “Tyrian purple”), Greek πτερόν (pterón, “feather, wing”) and Latin -fōrmis (“-shaped”), means “red-feathered”, in reference to the fact that these animals are reddish in color.

種的俗名 Common names of members

紅鶴。

Flamingos.

分佈 Distribution 

南錐體、南美洲西部和東北部海岸、安地列斯群島、尤卡坦半島和佛羅里達半島、地中海、非洲西部和東部海岸，及阿拉伯海。

Southern Cone, Western and Northeastern South American coasts, Antilles, Yucatan and Floridian Peninsulas, Mediterranean Sea, Western and Eastern African coasts, Arabian Sea.

體型 Size

體型範圍從80厘米高、94厘米翼展和2.5公斤重，到1.4米高、150厘米翼展和3.5公斤重。

They range from 80 cm in height, 94 cm in wingspan and 2.5 kg in weight up to 1.4 m in height, 150 cm in wingspan and 3.5 kg in weight.

形態 Morphology

牠們有長腿和圓圓的身體，有長的S形脖子和略帶鉤狀的粗喙。當他們孵化時，牠們的羽毛是會紅色，但成年後，由於水生細菌和飲食種的β-胡蘿蔔素，羽毛的顏色可以從淺粉紅色到鮮紅色。

They have long legs and a round body, with a long s-shaped neck and a slightly hooked thick bill. When they hatch, their plumage is grayish-red, but as adults, it can range from light pink to vivid red because of aquatic bacteria and beta-carotene from their diet.

生態及棲息地 Ecology & Habitat

棲息在大型鹽湖或鹼性湖泊、沼澤或淺池塘。

They inhabit large saline or alkaline lakes, swamps or shallow ponds.

食性 Diet

牠們是雜食性動物，因為牠們濾食豐年蝦、藍綠藻、幼蟲、軟體動物和甲殼類動物。

They are omnivores since they filter-feed on brine shrimp, blue-green algae, insect larvae, tiny insects, mollusks, and crustaceans.

繁殖 Reproduction 

雖然牠們住在龐大的群體，但牠們建立牢固的配對關係。想必會更換合作夥伴，因為牠們有很多的選擇。築巢區域由伴侶建立和守護。牠們在泥灘上找到以個好地點築巢，通常雌性會選擇。交配發生在築巢期間，偶爾另一對會嘗試佔據自己的築巢地點。雄性和雌性共同努力建造巢穴並保護巢穴和卵。有報告稱同性配對有存在。

Though in bigger colonies, they build strong pair ties. They presumably switch partners since there are more options open to them. Nesting territories are established and guarded by the partners. They find a good location to construct a nest on the mudflat; often, the female chooses this location. Usually, copulation takes place during the building of the nest, though occasionally another pair will try to take over the nesting location for themselves. They fiercely protect their breeding locations. The male and female work together to construct the nest and to keep the nest and egg safe. Reports exist of pairs of the same sex.

已知的物種

Total species known

6

博物館收藏的物種

Species in the collection

1

在香港已知的物種

Species in Hong Kong

0

Reproduction 參考文獻

Lovette, I. J., Fitzpatrick, J. W. (2016). Handbook of Bird Biology. Wiley-Blackwell.

Gill, F. B., Prum, R. O. (2019). Ornithology. W.H. Freeman & Co. Ltd.

Johnson, A., Cézilly, F. (1975). The Greater Flamingo. T & AD Poyser Ltd.