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Flamingos

Phoenicopterus | Phoeniconaias | Phoenicoparrus

Flamingos are tall wading birds in the family Phoenicopteridae (order Phoenicopteriformes) with six living species. Four species live in the Americas and two in Africa and parts of Eurasia. Flamingos often rest standing on one leg; proposed explanations include reducing heat loss and reducing muscular effort, and research suggests they can hold the one-legged posture with very little muscle activity. Chicks hatch with gray down and gradually turn pink as they accumulate carotenoid pigments from a diet that includes algae and small crustaceans.

Flamingos are tall wading birds in the family Phoenicopteridae (order Phoenicopteriformes) with six living species. Four species live in the Americas and two in Africa and parts of Eurasia. Flamingos often rest standing on one leg; proposed explanations include reducing heat loss and reducing muscular effort, and research suggests they can hold the one-legged posture with very little muscle activity. Chicks hatch with gray down and gradually turn pink as they accumulate carotenoid pigments from a diet that includes algae and small crustaceans.