Buckelwal vs Greater Flamingo

Megaptera novaeangliae compared with Phoenicopterus roseus

Key Differences

  • Buckelwal is Vulnerable while Greater Flamingo is Not Evaluated.
  • Buckelwal is carnivore while Greater Flamingo is omnivore.
  • Buckelwal is 8571.4x heavier than Greater Flamingo.
  • Buckelwal lives longer (50 years vs 40 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Buckelwal Greater Flamingo
Kingdom same Animalia (hayvan) Animalia (hayvan)
Phylum same Chordata (Kordalılar) Chordata (Kordalılar)
Class Mammalia (memeliler) Aves (kuş)
Order Cetacea (Whales & Dolphins) Phoenicopteriformes (Flamingos)
Family Balaenopteridae (Rorquals) Phoenicopteridae (Flamingos)
Genus Megaptera (Humpback Whales) Phoenicopterus (Flamingos)
Species Megaptera novaeangliae Phoenicopterus roseus

Evolutionary Relationship

Buckelwal and Greater Flamingo share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Kordalılar)

Conservation Status

Buckelwal

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~80.0K

Trend: Increasing ↑

Greater Flamingo

NE — Not Evaluated

Population: ~680.0K

Trend: Increasing ↑

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Buckelwal Greater Flamingo
Diet Carnivore Omnivore
Average Lifespan 50 years 40 years
Average Length 15.0 m 1.3 m
Average Weight 30.0 t 3.5 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Buckelwal

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, among 11 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (5 countries), and South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela). Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Greater Flamingo

Habitat

Typically found in a wide range of habitat types.

Range

Found across Europe (7 countries).

Buckelwal

Among the most acrobatic of the great whales, humpback whales are renowned for their complex, haunting songs sung by males during breeding season — some lasting hours and evolving over time. Reaching 16 meters and 30 tonnes, they undertake the longest migrations of any mammal. Found in all oceans, humpbacks feed on krill and small fish using cooperative bubble-net feeding. Populations have largely recovered from historic whaling.

Greater Flamingo

The most widespread flamingo species, greater flamingos reach 1.2 meters in height and inhabit saline and alkaline lakes across Europe, Africa, and South Asia. Their distinctive pink coloration derives from carotenoid pigments in the algae and crustaceans they filter-feed through specialized bent bills. They breed in dense colonies numbering tens of thousands on hypersaline lakes toxic to most other species. Listed as Least Concern with stable populations.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

Nature FYI Family

Explore more of the natural world across our sister sites.

Part of the Nature FYI family — FYIPedia