Flamingo vs. Heron — What's the Difference?

Flamingos or flamingoes are a type of wading bird in the family Phoenicopteridae, the only bird family in the order Phoenicopteriformes. Four flamingo species are distributed throughout the Americas, including the Caribbean, and two species are native to Africa, Asia, and Europe.

The herons are long-legged, long-necked, freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae, with 64 recognised species, some of which are referred to as egrets or bitterns rather than herons. Members of the genera Botaurus and Ixobrychus are referred to as bitterns, and, together with the zigzag heron, or zigzag bittern, in the monotypic genus Zebrilus, form a monophyletic group within the Ardeidae.

Any of several large wading birds of the family Phoenicopteridae, primarily of tropical regions, having reddish or pinkish plumage, long legs, a long flexible neck, and a bill turned downward at the tip.

A large fish-eating wading bird with long legs, a long S-shaped neck, and a long pointed bill.

A moderate reddish orange.

Any of various wading birds of the family Ardeidae, having a long neck, long legs, a long pointed bill, and usually white, gray, or bluish-gray plumage.

A wading bird of the family Phoenicopteridae.

A long-legged, long-necked wading bird of the family Ardeidae.

A deep pink color tinged with orange, like that of a flamingo.

Any wading bird of the genus Ardea and allied genera, of the family Ardeidæ. The herons have a long, sharp bill, and long legs and toes, with the claw of the middle toe toothed. The common European heron (Ardea cinerea) is remarkable for its directly ascending flight, and was formerly hunted with the larger falcons.

Of a deep pink color tinged with orange, like that of a flamingo.

Greek mathematician and inventor who devised a way to determine the area of a triangle and who described various mechanical devices (first century)

Any bird of the genus Phœnicopterus. The flamingoes have webbed feet, very long legs, and a beak bent down as if broken. Their color is usually red or pink. The American flamingo is P. ruber; the European is P. antiquorum.

Gray or white wading bird with long neck and long legs and (usually) long bill

Large pink to scarlet web-footed wading bird with down-bent bill; inhabits brackish lakes