Flamingos are large water birds who live near lagoons or lakes and have long necks, stick-like legs and pink to coral-reddish feathers. Flamingos are pink because the algae they eat are loaded with beta carotene, an organic chemical that contains a reddish-orange pigment. If a flamingo were to stop eating foods with this ingredient, its new feathers would grow in much paler and the reddish feathers would eventually molt away.
Groups of flamingos are called colonies or flocks. The colony works together to protect each other from predators and to take care of the young. Flamingos are monogamous, meaning they stay with their mate for life. All the flamingos in a group will mate at the same time so their chicks will hatch together. Baby flamingos are gray or white and will turn pink within the first couple years of life.
It isn’t really known why flamingos tend to stand on one foot, but it is believed that by keeping one foot out of the cold water they stay warmer. It also seems to be a comfortable resting position for them. Flamingos live 20 to 30 years in the wild or up to 50 years in a zoo.
Photo taken at the Rio Grande Zoo in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
For Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Color of your choice (Orange/Coral/Pink)
Grammy Writes 
I’ve always loved flamingos. Thank you for sharing!
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No problem – I love them too! Their color is amazing.
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🙂
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What a beautiful colored birds. Most birds when they are resting they tend to just use one leg at a time and then switch. KInd of Yoga?
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Yes Yoga – ha! Their legs are so skinny you wonder how it holds them up! Thanks for the comment 🙂
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Yes, I’m always amazed by their ability to stand on one leg. They have much better balance than I!
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Nope – I couldn’t do it either! 🙂
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Those flamingos are brilliant. Thanks so much for playing along with us this week.
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I appreciate the comment. Thanks for the challenge!
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Truly beautiful shot! And thank you for the details. I never would’ve guessed they lived more than 10 years. Impressive, too, about the monogamy mixed with communal parenting.
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I think they are beautiful birds – and apparently very smart! Thanks Jazz!
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A lovely shot Linda.
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You are kind – thank you!
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