Flamingo
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The flamingos (Phoenicopteridae) are the only family within the order of the Phoenicopteriformes. They occur in South, Central and North America as well as Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia.
Phoenicopterus chilensis | Chilean Flamingo
Flamingos or flamingoes are a type of wading bird in the family Phoenicopteridae, the only bird family in the order Phoenicopteriformes.
Phoenicopterus rube, is a large species of flamingo closely related to the greater flamingo and Chilean flamingo. It is the only flamingo that naturally inhabits North America.
Flamingos are pink because the algae they consume are loaded with beta carotene (an organic chemical that contains a reddish-orange pigment ).
If a flamingo were to stop eating food containing carotenoids, its new feathers would begin growing in with a much paler shade, and its reddish feathers would eventually molt away.
Flamingo preening.
Flamingos or flamingoes are a type of wading bird in the family Phoenicopteridae, which is the only bird family in the order Phoenicopteriformes. There are four flamingo species distributed throughout the Americas (including the Caribbean), and two species native to Africa, Asia, and Europe.
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Phoeniconaias minor
mit Rosaflamingo (Greater flamingo)
gesehen und fotographiert in Süd-Israel, nahe Eilat
auch in Israel eine seltene Ausnahmeerscheinung
With their pink and crimson plumage, long legs and necks, and strongly hooked bills, flamingos cannot be mistaken for any other type of bird. These beauties have long fascinated people. An accurate cave painting of a flamingo, found in the south of Spain, dates back to 5,000 B.C.
The flamingo’s pink or reddish color comes from the rich sources of carotenoid pigments in the algae and small crustaceans the birds eat. Caribbean flamingos, a subspecies of greater flamingo, are the brightest, showing their true colors of red, pink, or orange on their legs, bills, and faces.
Flamingos live in lagoons or large, shallow lakes. These bodies of water may be quite salty or caustic, too much so for most other animals. In some lakes, their only animal “neighbors” are algae, diatoms, and small crustaceans. That works in the flamingo’s favor, as the birds dine on these small creatures!
Chilean, 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 Caribbean subspecies is native to Mexico, the Caribbean, and the northernmost tip of South America.
-San Diego Zoo
Created for KP TT234.
Source image with thanks, from abstractartangel77.
Flamingos from my private collection.
Flamingo Dream created in DDG.
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One thing I love about the long-necked wading birds here in Florida is the contortions they get into while grooming. And the vivid colors don't hurt .... it's hard to believe anything in nature can be that brilliant a pinky-orange !
"Houdini" and "Mango", Flamingos.
The Victoria Butterfly Gardens is located in the Greater Victoria region of Brentwood Bay and is one of the most popular tourist sites in the Victoria area. The Victoria Butterfly Gardens is known for having different species of butterflies and moths in their indoor facility, as well as birds, fishes, frogs, a chameleon, geckoes and tortoises.