13 September 2024: Day 7, at the Strait of Gibraltar, Tarifa, WINGS Spain in Autumn
Click here to see (generally) where I am today.

In Spanish the word “flamenco” is both a male adjective meaning “Flemish” and the name of the bird “flamingo.”

Several hundred years ago the term Flamenco was also used to identify the Romani people (Gitanos) of Spain, mistakenly identifying them as German/Flemish.

In the late 17th century the Gitanos in Andalusia developed a music and dance art form based on the folkloric music traditions of southern Spain. When this art form became famous it was called Flamenco.

So now we are in Andalusia, home of the real Flamenco. Video is from the 2016 Flamenco Festival at New York City Center.

We won’t see a flamenco performance on our birding trip but we have seen greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus). Lots of them! They live year round in southern Spain.

Notice the moves these flamingos make during their courtship dance. (Click here to see on YouTube. These are Chilean flamingos.)

The flamingo moves are explained in the video below. I am especially fond of the Wing Thing. (Click here to see on YouTube.)

Since the same word is used for both the bird and the dance it makes me wonder: Where did the human dance moves come from? Did we adopt them by watching flamingos?