Flaming Facts!

1. There are six species of flamingo. Adult flamingos range from 3.3 to 4.6 feet tall and weigh 3.3 to 9 pounds and there wingspans range from 3.3 to 5 feet.

2. Their pink or reddish color comes from the algae, diatoms, and small crustaceans the birds eat.
Flamingos eat with their head upside down in the water, so they can suck water and food in with the front of their bill.

3.Flamingos run to gather speed when taking off. They flap their wings almost continuously in flight. They fly when startled or to migrate. The speed of a flock can reach 31 to 37 miles per hour. They can fly 300 miles to reach a new habitat.

4. Flamingos live an average of 20 to 30 years. Grown flamingos have few natural predators.

5. They rest by standing on one leg. The “knee” of the flamingo is actually an ankle joint and the lower leg bends forward.

I hope you enjoyed those great flamingo facts!