That works in the flamingo’s favor, as the birds dine on these small creatures! Lesser flamingosĬhilean, Andean, and puna flamingos are found in South America greater and lesser flamingos live in Africa, with greaters also found in the Middle East the American or Caribbean flamingo is native to Mexico, the Caribbean, and the northernmost tip of South America. In some lakes, their only animal “neighbors” are algae, diatoms, and small crustaceans. These bodies of water may be quite salty or caustic, too much so for most other animals. You can develop your own theory about this age-old question on your next visit to the Zoo or Safari Park, where the flamingos are always gorgeous and entertaining.įlamingos live in lagoons or large, shallow lakes. Another explanation is more mundane: it’s probably a comfortable position for standing. There is less heat lost through the leg if it is tucked next to the bird’s body however, this behavior is also seen in hot climates. Why do flamingos stand on one leg? Scientists aren’t sure. Greater flamingos sleeping in the shallows of a lake, some standing on one leg. Their vocal repertoire includes growling, low gabbling, and nasal honking. Marching: The large, tightly packed flock walks together as one, before switching direction abruptly.įlamingos also use vocalizations and these displays to communicate between individuals or alert the group of possible danger. Twist-preen: The bird twists its neck back and appears to preen its feathers with its bill quickly. Wing salute: Showing off the contrasting colors with the tail cocked and the neck outstretched. Head-flagging: Stretching the neck with head up high and rhythmically turning the head from side to side. Their numbers add to the impressiveness of ritualized flamingo displays the purpose of these displays is to stimulate hormone production and ensure that as many birds as possible will breed. The flamingos follow each other closely, using a variety of formations that help them take advantage of the wind currents.įlamingos are social birds that live in groups of varying sizes, from a few pairs to sometimes thousands or tens of thousands. And, as with most other flamingo activities, they usually fly together in large flocks. When flying, flamingos flap their wings fairly rapidly and almost continuously. Their outstretched wings showcase the pretty black and red (or pink) coloration that, with slight variations, is shared by all flamingo species. In flight, flamingos are quite distinctive, with their long necks stretched out in front and the equally long legs trailing behind. This speed is not related to the ground but rather to the air, so they usually take off facing into the wind. In order to fly, flamingos need to run a few paces to gather speed. We eat carotenoids, too, whenever we munch on carrots, beets, and certain other veggies, but not enough to turn us orange! American flamingos, a subspecies of greater flamingo, are the brightest, showing their true colors of red, pink, or orange on their legs, bills, and faces. The flamingo’s pink or reddish color comes from the rich sources of carotenoid pigments (like the pigments of carrots) in the algae and small crustaceans the birds eat. Today, images of flamingos are found in literature (Alice used them as croquet mallets in Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll), and immortalized as plastic lawn ornaments! An accurate cave painting of a flamingo, found in the south of Spain, dates back to 5,000 B.C. These beauties have long fascinated people. Think pink-and orange? With their pink and crimson plumage, long legs and necks, and strongly hooked bills, flamingos cannot be mistaken for any other type of bird.
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