The American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) is known for its brilliant pink plumage and is primarily associated with tropical environments like the Caribbean and the Yucatán Peninsula. While the immediate answer to whether these birds are found in South Carolina is often yes, their presence is a complex and unusual occurrence.
Status of Flamingos in South Carolina
Flamingos are not a native or resident species that breeds naturally within South Carolina. Their appearance in the state places them in the category of “vagrants”—individual birds that have strayed far outside their normal geographic range. Historically, recorded sightings of wild flamingos along the coast were extremely rare.
The frequency of these rare sightings has begun to shift over the last few years. For example, a flamingo was documented near McClellanville in 2017 following Hurricane Irma. This indicated that tropical storms could occasionally push these birds northward, making these surprise visits a less uncommon phenomenon than in decades past.
Why Flamingos Appear in South Carolina
The mechanism responsible for these sightings is the mass displacement of birds from their established populations by severe weather. American Flamingos primarily inhabit areas like the Bahamas, Cuba, and the Yucatán Peninsula. Major hurricanes passing through the Caribbean or the Gulf of Mexico can capture these birds within the storm system’s circulation, transporting them hundreds of miles outside their typical routes.
The most dramatic example occurred in 2023 following Hurricane Idalia. The storm carried a significant number of flamingos far from their source populations, depositing them in numerous states along the East Coast, including South Carolina. Ornithologists believe many were caught in the storm’s trajectory while flying between the Yucatán and Cuba. Once deposited, the birds seek refuge in suitable habitats while they recover.
Where to Spot the Pink Visitors
Observing a wild flamingo in South Carolina is most likely to happen in the immediate aftermath of a tropical storm. The birds typically seek out coastal wetlands and shallow salt marshes, which mimic their native estuarine environments and provide suitable feeding grounds. Specific locations along the central and southern coast have historically yielded the most consistent reports following weather events.
Areas like Bulls Island, part of the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge near Awendaw, have been documented sighting locations. Coastal areas around Georgetown and Pawleys Island have also reported these visitors. The best time to search for these vagrants is late summer through the fall, coinciding with the peak hurricane season. While present, the birds feed on small crustaceans and aquatic invertebrates before eventually flying south toward Florida or the Caribbean.