Quick Facts
- Type
- Bird
- Size
- 120–145 cm tall
- Weight
- 2.2–2.8 kg
- Habitat
- Coastal lagoons and salt flats of the Americas
- Diet
- Algae, brine shrimp, and small invertebrates
- Active Time
- Active by day (diurnal)
- Lifespan
- 20–40 years
Field Notes
- Flamingos get their pink color from pigments in the algae and shrimp they eat.
- They feed with their heads upside down, filtering food from the water.
- Standing on one leg likely helps them save body heat in cool water.
About the American Flamingo
The American flamingo is a tall wading bird of the Caribbean, the Galapagos, and northern South America, famous for its vivid rosy-pink plumage. That color comes from pigments in the algae and small crustaceans it eats; without them, the feathers would be pale. It feeds with its head upside down in shallow water, using a specialized down-bent bill to filter tiny food from mud and water. Flamingos are intensely social, gathering in large flocks, and often rest on one leg, a posture that helps conserve body heat.
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