Many of these characteristics have been previously identified on flamingos, but not on grebes. They hold at least 11 morphological traits in common, which are not found in other birds. Recent molecular studies have suggested a relation with grebes, while morphological evidence also strongly supports a relationship between flamingos and grebes. Many molecular and morphological studies support a relationship between grebes and flamingos. A 2002 paper concluded they are waterfowl, but a 2014 comprehensive study of bird orders found that flamingos and grebes are not waterfowl, but rather are part of Columbea, along with doves, sandgrouse, and mesites. The peculiar presbyornithids were used to argue for a close relationship between flamingos, waterfowl, and waders. Relationships to the waterfowl were considered as well, especially as flamingos are parasitized by feather lice of the genus Anaticola, which are otherwise exclusively found on ducks and geese. Earlier genetic studies, such as those of Charles Sibley and colleagues, also supported this relationship. Usually, the ibises and spoonbills of the Threskiornithidae were considered their closest relatives within this order. Traditionally, the long-legged Ciconiiformes, probably a paraphyletic assemblage, have been considered the flamingos' closest relatives and the family was included in the order. The family Phoenicopteridae was introduced by the French zoologist Charles Lucien Bonaparte in 1831, with Phoenicopterus as the type genus. ' crimson/red-feathered') other genera names include Phoeniconaias, which means 'crimson/red water nymph (or naiad)', and Phoenicoparrus, which means 'crimson/red bird (though, an unknown bird of omen)'. The name of the genus, Phoenicopterus, is from the Greek φοινικόπτερος phoinikopteros, lit. The word may also have been influenced by the Spanish ethnonym flamenco ('Fleming' or 'Flemish'). The name flamingo comes from Portuguese or Spanish flamengo ('flame-colored'), which in turn comes from Provençal flamenc – a combination of flama ('flame') and a Germanic-like suffix -ing.

Bright flamingo clipart