10 Reasons Why Flamingos Are the Most Beautiful Birds in the World

Flamingos are one of the most impressive birds on this planet. In fact, their appearance is so unique and distinctive that it’s almost impossible not to remember them once you see them for the first time. These beautiful creatures stand out from the rest with their bright pink feathers, long skinny legs and black-tipped orange bill. There are five flamingo species in the world, and all of them are quite abundant in regions like South America, Africa, Asia and Australia. But what makes flamingos so special? Flamingos are more than just an ordinary bird; they have a lot of interesting features that make them stand out from the rest. Keep reading to find out why flamingos are the most beautiful birds in the world!

They have a strange posture
Flamingos are a very unusual kind of bird. When they stand, they put their heads down, their long legs and the uppermost portion of the wings are held upwards. Flamingos are a tropical species and inhabit warm regions, so they have a lot of feathers to cover their bodies. Feathers are excellent insulators and help flamingos to regulate their body temperature. The feathers also keep them dry when they swim, and they have excellent flying abilities. However, the long legs and the uppermost portion of the wings are kept out of the water to prevent water from getting in their feathers and making them heavy. Flamingos also have a long, skinny neck that they use to reach food and to drink water. They put their beak upside down and lift their heads up to reach food as well as to drink water.

They live in saltwater and fresh water at the same time
Flamingos are very interesting birds, and one of their intriguing features is that they can live in saltwater and fresh water at the same time. When flamingos are young, they live in fresh water, but when they grow up, they move to the ocean where they feed on shrimps. The shrimp is rich in carotenoids, and flamingos have to consume a lot of carotenoids to stay pink. Flamingos don’t have gills to extract oxygen from water and breathe air like fish do; instead, they have an organ called a ‘Air sac’ that extracts oxygen from water. However, flamingos can’t live in fresh water their entire lives because they have to consume a lot of shrimps that are rich in carotenoids. Fresh water doesn’t have many shrimps, so flamingos need to move to the ocean where water is salty and there are plenty of shrimps.

They feed on Shrimp and Cyanobacteria
Flamingos are a very special species because they feed on Shrimp and Cyanobacteria. Shrimp is a rich source of carotenoids that make flamingos pink, and the Cyanobacteria are blue-green algae that are rich in protein. Flamingos eat the algae by scooping it up with their beak and filtering out the water through the side of their mouth. The algae are rich in protein, and flamingos need this protein to create new feathers and to produce eggs. Flamingos also eat shrimps that are rich in carotenoids. Flamingos ingest the algae and shrimp together while filtering water through their beak. However, flamingos can’t digest the algae and shrimp directly; instead, they ferment the food in their stomach, extract the protein and store it in their liver.

Their diet is rich in carotenoids
Flamingos are a colourful species and are known for the bright pink colour of their feathers. However, not many people know that the colour comes from carotenoids that flamingos consume from their diet. Flamingos eat shrimp, algae and other small organisms, and all these foods are rich in carotenoids. Flamingos store carotenoids in their liver and use it to colour their feathers. In fact, flamingos can’t make new feathers without consuming enough carotenoids, and without carotenoids, flamingos would be white in colour. Flamingos need a lot of carotenoids to stay pink, and their diet is rich in it. They feed on shrimp, algae and small organisms, and all these foods are rich in carotenoids. Apart from colouring their feathers, carotenoids have many other benefits as well. They have some anti-oxidant properties, they can promote eye health and they can even improve immunity.

They exist in different shapes and sizes
Flamingos are a beautiful species of birds, but they have a different shape when compared to other species. However, they all have 10 basic characteristics in common. All flamingos have long legs, a long, skinny neck, a very tall, skinny bill, webbed feet, a pink colour, black leg markings and a very strange posture. Flamingos also exist in different shapes and sizes. The smallest flamingo species is the little blue flamingo, and it grows to be about 25 inches tall. The Andean flamingo is the tallest amongst the species and grows to be about 40 inches tall. Flamingos also have a different body shape. They have a very long, thin body and a very small head. Their legs are very long, and their bill is long, thin and very tall.

They are born with pink feathers
Most people assume that flamingos turn pink after eating a lot of shrimps. However, this is not true. Flamingos are born with pink feathers! When a flamingo chick is born, its feathers are pink in colour. After a few weeks, the feathers start to change colour depending on the quantity of carotenoids in the chick’s diet. If the chick doesn’t consume enough carotenoids, its feathers never turn pink and remain white. If a chick consumes plenty of carotenoids, its feathers remain pink for its entire life. Flamingos feed their chicks with shrimps, algae and other organisms rich in carotenoids. So, when the chicks are born, their feathers are already pink.

They have a very strange posture
Flamingos are a very unusual kind of bird. When they stand, they put their heads down, their long legs and the uppermost portion of the wings are held upwards. Flamingos are a tropical species and inhabit warm regions, so they have a lot of feathers to cover their bodies. Feathers are excellent insulators and help flamingos to regulate their body temperature. The feathers also keep them dry when they swim, and they have excellent flying abilities. However, the long legs and the uppermost portion of the wings are kept out of the water to prevent water from getting in their feathers and making them heavy. Flamingos also have a long, skinny neck that they use to reach food and to drink water. They put their beak upside down and lift their heads up to reach food as well as to drink water.