American Flamingo Facts
The American flamingo is scientifically known as Phoenicopterus ruber, and it may also be called the Caribbean flamingo. It is the most colorful of the six species of flamingos, with feathers that are colored a bright, vibrant pink. The American flamingo is a large bird that is considered vulnerable to environmental factors.
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Features
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The American flamingo is most notable for its bright pink plumage, which is more intense along its neck and wings. Its flight feathers are black, and the bird has a long neck and a hooked, black-tipped bill.
Size
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The American flamingo is a large bird, with both males and females measuring between 40 and 48 inches in length. Adult males weigh 8 pounds, while females are a little lighter at 6 pounds. Adult flamingos have a wingspan of 5 feet.
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Social Life
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American flamingos live in large flocks, and they communicate through a wide variety of honks and barks. They are diurnal birds and are mostly active during the day, feeding together in the water. The courtship of the American flamingo stars in winter as smaller groups join together in one large courtship flock. Courting behavior includes wing stretching, head turning and marching.
Diet
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In the wild, American flamingos eat a wide variety of food. They use their curved bills to strain food particles from the water, including protozoans, diatoms, algae and other lake organisms. They will also eat worms, mollusks and tiny crustaceans, as well as insect larvae and some aquatic plants.
Location
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Though American flamingos are no longer found wild in North America, there are still wild populations in the West Indies. They tend to congregate in shallow soda or salt lagoons and lakes. The draining of lagoons and marshes destroys the American flamingo's natural habitat and results in a smaller population.
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References
- Photo Credit flamingo image by Lisa Batty from Fotolia.com
