Flamingoes By: Emily Boeck

The type of foods that Flamingos consume depends on where they live and the shape of their beaks. The diet will consist of a variety of mollusks and crustaceans. They also consume large amounts of blue and green algae. This helps to keep the water clean and the Flamingos have a digestive system that is well set up for this type of food consumption. Flamingoes are often seen stomping their webbed feet in the mud. Some people think this is to show aggression or to cool off their feet. However, it is actually a process of helping them to get their food sources to come to the surface of the water. It makes it easier for them to find what is available. Food

Habitat Flamingoes live in tropical and subtropical parts of South America, especially Chile, Peru, Argentina, and southern Brazil. You’ll also find some varieties of the flamingo in certain parts of Africa, especially in the eastern, southwestern, and western parts of the continent. There are even some species of flamingos in the Caribbean, populating Cuba the Bahamas, and the Galapagos Islands. The most widespread flamingo is the greater flamingo, and it’s found throughout India, the Middle East, Africa, and even the Mediterranean region.

The mating season for Flamingos seems to be tied into the rainy season instead of just a particular time of the year. The less rain there is the less likely they are to mate. In some years due to the lack of rainfall a colony of them won’t mate at all. Flamingos take very good care of their offspring and they also help with the raising of the young of others in their colony. It is often a group effort to keep the needs of them properly taken care of. Mating

Types of Flamingoes 1. Andean Flamingo 2. Chilean Flamingo There are only six species of flamingos in the world they are: 1. Andean Flamingo 2. Chilean Flamingo 3. Greater Flamingo 4. Lesser Flamingo 5.Puna Flamingo 6. American Flamingo

Why Flamingoes Are Pink Flamingos are pink, orange or white depending on what they eat. Flamingos eat algae and crustaceans that make them a pink, orange, or white.

Fun Fact The plural form of the word “flamingo” can be spelled f-l-a-m-i-n-g-o-e-s or f-l-a-m-i-n-g-o-s.