It’s Great to be a Flamingo By Mrs. Rauscher

I am a Beautiful Bird I get my beautiful pink color from the shrimp that I eat. But my chicks are born gray or white. I am about 51 inches tall and weigh 7 pounds. I sound like a honking goose. I have a long curved neck that allows me to twist and move. My 12 flight feathers help me to fly.

My Adaptations Help Me Survive My long, long legs help me wade in deep water. I lower my head into the water upside down . I have bristles on my tongue to help filter food particles from the water. When the weather gets cold I migrate to a warmer climate. I fly at night at about 35 miles per hour. Sometimes I fly over 300 miles in one night.

My Home I live in southwestern Africa. I do have friends on other continents like South America and on the islands of the Caribbean. I always live in lakes, lagoons or swamp areas.

I Am a Predator and Prey I eat seeds, blue-green algae. I am a predator when I eat crustaceans and mollusks that I filter out of the water. I am a prey because my worst enemy is man who is destroying my habitat.

My Food Chain SUN

Speed Comparison Miles per hour Birds

It’s Great to Be a Flamingo I often stand on one leg to rest. I live in a large group called a colony I have a long neck to preen the feathers on my back.