Here We Flamingo
You don't need to stand on one foot for this one.
Howdy! It’s Joey, back with more Fun Fact Friyay. Before we begin…
The Craig Leener trilogy, This Was Never About Basketball, is now available in hardcover. I know many of us have a Kindle or some other e-book reader (you can also grab these books there), but there’s a special joy in holding a hardcover in your hands, eagerly turning each page. They look beautiful, of course, and it’s just a great way to get lost in the story.
And get lost in the story you will. Craig’s books are an engaging read with fluid dialogue and action-packed scenes, and they’ll satisfy die-hard hoops fans and sci-fi lovers alike. Craig can also teach you a thing or two about shooting free throws—he’s at 87% on his backyard hoop, a claim that remains 100% unverified. Learn more here.
Now, onto our fact!
A group of flamingoes is called a flamboyance.
A singular bird can sometimes have an impressive name. I think raven is kind of cool, and osprey is fun to say. You might even argue that owls are a real hoot.
But when you turn that individual bird into a group? Well, then, you get some delightful results.
You might discover a murder or congress of crows. You may be a fan of a flock of seagulls. Perhaps you’ll sit by a ballet of swas while watching the ballet movie Black Swan.
Perhaps the best name for any collection of birds comes with the flamingo. A group of flamingoes is known as a flamboyance. Both words come from fire-related concepts.
Flamingo gets its roots from flamengo, a Spanish and Portuguese word meaning “flame-colored.” Meanwhile, flamboyance is a French word meaning “to flame.” It also means “flair,” which is probably how it’s more traditionally used today.
In any case, if you ever spot a gaggle of the pink birds together, you can excitedly nudge whoever you’re with and exclaim, “There’s a flamboyance of flamingoes!”
Then, they’ll probably look at you with confusion, and you can share this fact with them. Everyone will laugh at what a wonderful person you are with all your fun knowledge, and the moment will freeze frame as the end credits roll.
Such a fun tidbit!