Why are flamingos pink and how are they fed in zoos so that they do not turn pale

All birds of the flamingo genus have a characteristic pink plumage, the nuances of which depend on the particular species. But it turns out that this color is not constant, but is provided due to a certain type of food. Representatives of the flamingo genus, which are kept in zoos or nurseries, must also have special additives in their menu, otherwise they will quickly lose their unique appearance.

In total, there are 6 species of flamingos living in the vastness of Eurasia, in Central and East Africa, as well as in South America and neighboring islands. All flamingos are rare and small species that are under protection.

Pink flamingo is the most numerous representative of the genus, living in the vastness of Eurasia

Red Flamingo - Caribbean

Andean flamingo. This species is found in the mountainous regions of Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile.

Flamingo James is the closest neighbor of the Andean flamingo, having a common habitat with it

Chilean flamingo is another South American who inhabits the mountainous regions of tropical and subtropical latitudes.

Lesser flamingo is an inhabitant of the African continent, a small population of which is also in India and Pakistan

Flamingos feed in shallow waters, often on the shores of salt lakes. Their bizarre beak shape is ideally suited to select small bottom inhabitants from the ground. The pink color in the plumage of flamingos is ensured by the presence of special substances in the food - carotenoids. They are especially rich in small crustaceans, to a lesser extent algae and mollusks, which form the basis of the diet of adults. Interestingly, flamingo chicks, who have not yet switched to an independent diet, have a light, not pink color of feathers. The same can happen with the inhabitants of parks and nurseries, if you do not properly take care of their diet. The menu of these magnificent captive birds necessarily contains small crustaceans, as well as algae and carrots rich in carotenoids.