Guide · France · All year
Hundreds of pink birds wading in rows through shallow water, heads down, or suddenly taking off in a wave of black and red wings: the Camargue, in the Rhône delta, is the only place in France where flamingos breed. You can see them there all year. This guide tells you where to see them best, when the courtship displays happen and how to watch without disturbing them.
Short answer: go to the Parc ornithologique du Pont de Gau, just outside Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. The park is open all year and the flamingos stand a few metres from the paths. The finest time is mid-December to late February, when the flamingos perform their courtship displays. In summer up to around 100,000 flamingos feed in the Camargue marshes.
Where to see flamingos
| Spot | What you see | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Parc ornithologique du Pont de Gau, Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer | Flamingos up close, plus herons, spoonbills, storks and ibises | About 60 hectares with trails and hides; open all year, partly wheelchair accessible. Fewer opening days in winter |
| Réserve naturelle des Marais du Vigueirat | A reserve of more than 1,200 hectares on the edge of the delta | The Sentier de l’Etourneau is free and open from sunrise to sunset. Common cranes in winter too |
| Salt pans around Aigues-Mortes | Large flocks of flamingos in the shallow salt water | In 2024 the flamingos bred in the Aigues-Mortes salt pans; keep your distance from the colony |
| Along the roads near Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer | Flamingos in the lagoons, with Camargue horses and bulls | Free; only park where it is allowed and stay on the verge |
The large breeding colony on the Étang du Fangassier is not open to the public. Flamingos quickly abandon their nests when disturbed, so the colony is left in peace.
When to go
| Period | What you see |
|---|---|
| Mid-December – February | Courtship displays: groups of flamingos marching together, turning their heads and spreading their wings, in their brightest colours |
| March – July | Breeding season. In summer the young also gather in large groups |
| July – September | Most flamingos in the marshes, up to around 100,000. Busy and hot: go early or late in the day |
| October – November | Quiet, soft light and fewer visitors; many flamingos stay |
Flamingos don’t always stay in one place. They move around the Mediterranean in search of food, so numbers in the Camargue vary by year and season.
Why are flamingos pink?
Because of their food. Flamingos filter algae and tiny brine shrimp from the water, and the pigment in them, beta-carotene, colours their feathers. Young flamingos are grey and only turn pink after a few years. Read more about identification and behaviour on the greater flamingo page.
Flamingos with a ring
Since 1977 the Tour du Valat research institute has ringed hundreds of flamingo chicks in the Camargue every year, with coloured rings carrying a code. This tells researchers where the birds go and how old they get. See a ringed flamingo and can you read the code? You can report the sighting to the Tour du Valat.
How to watch without disturbing
- Stay on paths and dykes and don’t walk into the water or onto the banks.
- Don’t stop in the middle of the road to look; find a place where you can park safely.
- If a flock takes off, you are too close. Step back calmly.
What to bring
At Pont de Gau you hardly need binoculars, but elsewhere in the Camargue the flamingos often stand far out in the water. Binoculars or a camera with a long zoom are essential there. In summer bring mosquito repellent and water; in winter a warm coat against the mistral.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about flamingos in the Camargue
Where can you see flamingos in the Camargue?
Most easily at the Parc ornithologique du Pont de Gau near Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. You often see them in the Marais du Vigueirat, around the Aigues-Mortes salt pans and in the lagoons along the roads too.
When is the best time to see flamingos?
You can see them all year. From mid-December to late February they perform their courtship displays; in summer there are the most.
Are the flamingos in the Camargue there in winter?
Yes. Some leave, but many flamingos stay all winter, and that is exactly when you see the courtship displays.
Why are flamingos pink?
Because of the beta-carotene in the algae and brine shrimp they eat. Young flamingos are still grey.
Can you visit the breeding colony?
No, the colony on the Étang du Fangassier is not open to the public. Flamingos quickly abandon their nests when disturbed.
Discover other animals of the Camargue too, such as the European bee-eater and the European pond turtle.
Habitat · France
