Why are flamingos pink?

Flamingos are long-legged wading birds, often covered in bright pink feathers. The bird's name is derived from the Spanish or Portuguese word meaning "flame-colored," and the bird is known for its vibrant appearance. The pink color of their feathers, although their most famous quality, is not a genetic trait. In fact, flamingos are born dark gray. So why are these birds pink if it's not part of their DNA?

The saying “you are what you eat” rings truer to flamingos than it does to humans. The bright pink color of flamingos comes from beta-carotene, a red-orange pigment found in high concentrations in the algae, brine fly larvae and brine shrimp that flamingos eat in their wetland environments. In the digestive system, enzymes break down carotenoids into pigments, which are absorbed by fat in the liver and deposited in the flamingo's feathers and skin. In order to actually color these external properties, large amounts of carotenoids must be consumed. Since a flamingo's diet consists almost entirely of carotenoid-rich delicacies, flamingos have no problem coloring themselves. Humans, on the other hand, need to eat a lot of carrots (a food rich in carotenoids, which give the pigment its name) to turn their skin orange.

There are six different species of flamingos found around the world. Because habitats and food sources vary by location and season, the colors of birds also vary. Some flamingos are a darker or lighter pink, some are orange or red, and some are pure white.

animal tags： flamingo