Flamingos Eyes

Flamingos are well known for their bright pink hue but the shade they are can vary depending on the type of food they eat. The pigments in the algae, molluscs and crustaceans they consume provide the color. Young flamingo chicks are white or grey and take several years to develop their adult coloring.

Their eyes are a very interesting color too. The upper and lower portions of their bill, or mandible, fit together very tightly and it is like a lid that opens and closes on itself. They use this feature to filter their food from the shallow water in which they wade and to keep larger particles of food out.

Like many birds, flamingos are social and live in large groups. They are also known for their colorful displays to show off or communicate with other flamingos in the group. A common display is head-flagging, where the bird raises its head with its neck outstretched. Another display is the wing salute, where the bird extends its wings with the tips touching, and then flutters them in a rhythmic pattern. Flamingos are also known to march in groups, with the birds lining up side by side as they walk together.

The two main flamingo species are the American and the Greater Flamingo. The American Flamingo is the most familiar and has a deeper pink shade to its feathers, with its knees, beak and lower bill darker than the rest of its body. The Greater Flamingo is a more muted pink, with its body, neck and legs lighter in color and its knees, beak and lower bill slightly darker than the rest of the body. The Chilean Flamingo is a more pale shade of pink than the other two species and its beak is shorter and less deep.

While flamingos do have some natural predators, they are not normally attacked by other animals or even preyed upon by humans. However, the threats to their survival include water pollution, habitat loss and human activities such as egg harvesting and hunting. Their eggs can also be poisoned by lead from fishing tackle and their feathers can become contaminated with pesticides or herbicides used in agricultural production.

In captivity, flamingos are easy to care for and can live for a very long time. They are a popular bird in zoos, and can often be seen swimming in ponds and lakes. In the wild, flamingos are found in Africa, Asia and Southern Russia. They are also found in a variety of waterways, including lakes that contain high concentrations of carbonate salts, which make the waters antacid and deadly to other species.

Although flamingos live in relatively unforgiving habitats, they are surprisingly adaptable. They have adapted to live in salt lakes, brackish lagoons and a variety of other habitats. They have also survived in artificial lakes such as those at WWT Slimbridge and in zoos around the world. Their flamboyant colors and social behavior makes them an attractive and interesting species that has become iconic worldwide.