American Flamingo

American Flamingo
Phoenicopterus ruber, Linnaeus
Octavo edition, plate 375

“On the 7th of May 1832, while sailing from Indian Key, one of the numerous islets that skirt the south-eastern coast of the Peninsula of Florida, I for the first time saw a flock of Flamingoes. It was on the afternoon of one of those sultry days which, in that portion of the country, exhibit towards evening the most glorious effulgence that can be conceived. The sun, now far advanced toward the horizon, still shone with full splendour, the ocean around glittered in its quiet beauty . . . Far and away to seaward we spied a flock of Flamingoes advancing in ‘Indian line,’ with well-spread wings, outstretched necks, and long legs directed backwards. Ah! Reader, could you but know the emotions that then agitated my breast! . . . I followed them with my eyes, watching as it were every beat of their wings; and as they were rapidly advancing towards us, Captain Day, who was aware of my anxiety to procure some, had every man stowed away out of sight and our gunners in readiness . . . suddenly, to our extreme disappointment, their chief veered away, and was of course followed by the rest . . . the Flamingoes were all, as I suppose, very old and experienced birds . . .”

John James Audubon, Birds of America (New York: J.J. Audubon; Philadelphia: J. B. Chevalier, 1840-1844), vol. 6, p. 169.

View bird in National Audubon Society Guide to North American Birds.