Flamingoes are one of the most recognizable birds in the world, known for their distinctive pink feathers and long necks. They are so well known in fact, that they are common lawn decorations in the United States.
Habitat
Flamingoes live in flocks near large bodies of water such as lakes or lagoons. Any water that is particularly stagnant, and has high levels of salt is where they prefer to be for feeding.
Diet
Flamingoes sport massive beaks used for filter-feeding small krill and other crustaceans. They use their webbed feet to stir up the mud, then dip their heads upside down to filter out the crustaceans into their beaks. This is also how flamingoes gain their signature pink feathers, by eating the beta-carotene in the sea creatures.
Species
There are at least six different species of flamingo, the greater flamingo, lesser flamingo, Andean flamingo, Chilean flamingo, American flamingo, and the puna flamingo. They all live in various areas around the world, such as the Caribbeans, Americas, and Africa.
Fun Facts
- Baby chicks are completely white and grow into their pink feathers as they become older.
- Flamingoes are the Bahamas national bird.
- The largest flamingo is the greater flamingo, standing at approximately 3-4 feet tall and weighing 4-9 pounds.