If you’ve ever been to a zoo or wildlife preserve, long-legged flamingos standing in groups might be a familiar sight. While flapping, standing on one leg, and squawking to their friends are easily observed behavior, many never see what goes on behind the scenes. To shed some light on flamingo eating behaviors, the San Diego Zoo took some amazing underwater footage of these pink birds at one of their favorite pastimes: munching on seafood. (1)
Flamingos Chow Down On Underwater Cam
The San Diego Zoo is world-famous for its work in wildlife preservation and education. As part of their commitment to teaching people about the natural world, they’ve made a variety of live camera feeds available on their website. Among apes, pandas, hippos, and tigers, the zoo posted the underwater antics of the flamingos.
In the video, long dark pink-gray legs can be seen slowly wading through the turquoise waters. The flamingos then dip down their heads, rapidly sucking water and mud into their beaks. This action, the video’s caption explains, allows shrimp and other small aquatic creatures to get trapped in the birds’ bills. While the zoo flamingos’ diet differs a bit from their wild cousins–they’re fed pellets containing all the nutrients they need–the keepers keep their food source close to a water source so they can eat in their natural way.
In the wild, the long legs of the flamingo allow them to wade deeply into water to search for food. In fact, they spend most of their time there: the birds’ habitat consists of lagoons or large, shallow lakes. Since this water is often too salty for other animals, the flamingos have algae and crustaceans all to themselves to consume. As they hold their beaks upside down, they suck the water and mud through the front of their bill. It’s then pumped out the bill’s sides, where briny plates called lamellae filter out water and hold in tasty morsels. (1, 2)
A Uniquely Pink Species
Watching flamingos eat is fascinating, as it specifically ties into their infamous color. The pink or reddish color of these birds is determined by their food source. The carotenoid pigment content of the algae or crustaceans they feed on is what gives flamingos their distinct hue. Humans eat this pigment, too, in the form of carrots, beets, and other vegetables. The difference? We don’t eat enough of it to turn our skin orange. While shades among these birds vary, American flamingos shine the brightest in color.
The fact that the bird’s diet influences its color can be clearly seen. For example, flamingo feathers lose their color rapidly when they shed. Additionally, all chicks are born gray, not attaining their pink status until they grow older. Because flamingo parents feed their babies “crop milk”–or contents of their upper digestive tract–they tend to drain in color until their feathers are pale pink or white. As the chick grows and becomes independent, the parents will get their vibrancy back. (2)
Flamingos As Zoo Ambassadors
The San Diego Zoo has maintained its flock of American flamingos since 1932. It’s one of the biggest attractions for visitors and often the first animal they see upon arriving. Since 1957, more than 170 chicks have been born at the zoo–with 173 chicks hatched at its sister facility, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Because of habitat loss and development, some species of flamingos have faced declining populations. Thankfully, reserves and conversation efforts ensure that flamingos will be on the earth for generations to come. (2)
