100% buttercream except beak of bird I did in fondant. If I had piped the beak out of BC, it would have broken off due to weight and being a in a vertical position.
This is a 1/2 sheet cake with a 1/2 large regular size ball pan for the body of the bird.
I used a support column/ dowel for the inside of the neck. Then I piped BC icing and smoothed with small angle spatula and my finger dipped in very warm water.
I piped head out of pink Buttercream and smoothed in the same manner.
I piped feathers out of a #352 leaf tip, and did several layers on the wings in variegated shades of pinks and white on the bird, and wings.
On the 1/2 sheet cake I frosted in white, and frosted a thinner layer of different shades of blue and made a wave pattern to give more life to the water. Also piped some #2 tip white to look like froth on tips of some of the waves.
I piped some water lilies on top of water. Base of cake boarder was #8 white frosting.
I realize a flamingo has a much longer neck, but the customer liked the one I did in a turkey design where the bird was resting, and wanted less fondant, so this is why the neck is shorter.
All almond cake inside. One of my most popular flavors ordered.