Flamingo's!
by annie oneill
Habitat
Flamingos are found all over the world. They live in flocks and usually live near warm waters. They are mostly found near the eastern and northwestern coasts of Africa, southern Asia and the Gulf of Mexico
Color Patterns
They can be in shades of pink, red and orange. Their color comes from the carotenoid in the food they eat like algae and crustaceans
Male and Female Traits
Male flamingos are slightly larger than females. They weigh more and have longer wingspans. You can not tell whether a flamingo is male or female based on looks. Both male and females produce “milk” for the chicks and they both take turns incubating the egg. They both molt.
Chick Traits
They are able to swim before they leave the nest for good. Some young chicks imitate the feeding methods of older flamingos while standing in shallow water. Chicks begin to grow their flight feathers after 11 weeks and their bill begins to form. Chicks lose their gray or white color gradually over a two or three year period. After that their pink feathers begin to show.
Unusual Behavior
Flamingos are incredibly social which is a reason why they travel in very big groups. They stand on one leg occasionally. They spend 15 to 30 percent of their day "waterproofing" their feathers with oil. They sleep while resting their heads back.
Adaptations
Because flamingos have long legs, they can wade into much deeper water than most other birds. Webbed feet support them on. When the water is beyond their wading depth, flamingos swim at the surface while feeding. Webbed feet allow the flamingo to swim and walk in soft mud.Flamingos are capable of drinking water at temperatures that approach the boiling point.