Hanspeter Staeblein

#nature #animals #longevity #wild #special

Flamingos (family Phoenicopteridae) are iconic, highly social wading birds known worldwide for their vibrant pink plumage, stilt-like legs, and distinct, downward-curved bills. There are six recognized species of flamingos, found across parts of the Americas, Africa, Asia, and southern Europe.

Flamingos are not born pink—chicks hatch with fluffy gray feathers. Their famous coloration comes entirely from their diet, which is rich in carotenoid pigments. Flamingos consume large amounts of brine shrimp, algae, and small mollusks that contain these pigments. An enzyme in their liver breaks down the carotenoids into pink and orange molecules that deposit into their growing feathers and skin. If they stop eating these foods, their feathers eventually fade to white.