Why are flamingos pink?

Referring to flamingos, people often think of long and slender legs with beautiful pink or red feathers. In fact, this flamboyant, eye-catching feather is due to the flamingos' diet, not its genetic trait.

Flamingos are long legged birds that often have bright pink feathers. With a name derived from a Spanish or Portuguese word meaning 'color of fire', this bird is famous for its brilliant appearance. Although it is their most prominent trait, the flamingo's pink plumage is not a genetic trait. In fact, this bird was born with gray opaque feathers. So, if not DNA, why do these birds have pink and red feathers?

The color of flamingos comes from beta carotene in their food.

The saying 'You are what you eat' is more true for flamingos than for humans. The bright pink of flamingos comes from beta carotene , an orange-red pigment found in large quantities in algae, larvae, and saltwater shrimp - the flamingos' food in swampy environments.

In the digestive system, enzymes break down carotenoids into pigments that are absorbed by the fat in the liver and deposited in the skin and feathers (with flamingos). In order to truly color the body properties, carotenoids must be consumed in large quantities. Since flamingos' meals are almost exclusively filled with carotenoid foods, these birds have no problem creating their own colors. On the other hand, a person will need to eat a lot of carrots (foods rich in carotenoids, the name carrots also originated here) to change skin color to orange.

There are four distinct species of flamingos, all of which are native to South Africa. However, all four species and smaller flamingos populations live in isolated parts of the continent. Because of this, the color of a flamingo differs based on where it lives and what food it has available. Some flamingoes are darker or lighter pink; some are red and orange; others are pure white.

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