The flamingo is a long-lived wading bird found throughout the world. Flamingos are gregarious, living in close-knit populations numbering in the thousands. But flamingos are highly selective in who they hang out with.
When they are 2 weeks old, chicks congregate into selective social groups. Their parents leave them be. In these groups, fledglings form friendships which may last a lifetime.
Flamingos form enduring pair bonds. Both partners share the chores of nest-building and chick rearing. “Mating couples spend much of their time together, but lots of other social bonds also exist. Their friendships are stable,” said English zoologist Paul Rose.
References:
Paul E. Rose & Darren P. Croft, “Evaluating the social networks of four flocks of captive flamingos over a five-year period: Temporal, environmental, group and health influences on assortment,” Behavioural Processes 175 (June 2020).
“Flamingos form long-standing friendships, new study shows,” Sci News (14 April 2020).
“Flamingos form firm friendships,” Phys.org (14 April 2020).