The American Flamingo is found across the Caribbean and can be seen in large numbers in Cuba at the right time of year. They are commonly seen in the Las Salinas area of the Cienaga de Zapata National Park, where this image was taken. When I visited in November they numbered in the hundreds, but by January each year at the height of their migration in this part of the world the population in Las Salinas alone numbers over 10,000.

As with any large wading bird the transition to flight can be somewhat ungainly, but it does give the opportunity to see the black primary and secondary flight feathers which are hidden when the flamingo is standing at rest. Together with its vibrant pink plumage (much rosier than its African counterpart the Greater Flamingo) it’s certainly always a colourful sight.