With the Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus, it is one of two Old World flamingo species.

• 与大火烈鸟Phoenicopterusroseu一样，小火烈鸟也是这两种旧世界（非洲在地理区划上属于旧热带界，欧洲是古北界）火烈鸟的一种。