American Flamingo
American flamingo, Caribbean flamingo, Rosy flamingo
The American flamingo is a large species of flamingo closely related to the greater flamingo and Chilean flamingo. Along with the greater flamingo, it has the longest legs relative to its body size of all birds. The bill bends characteristically downward, and at the base it is pale yellow, in the middle it is pink to orange, and the tip is black. Their plumage is deep pink/red/orange and they are the brightest in plumage of all flamingo species. The young birds are gray in color, their feathers slowly turning pink as they mature.
Photos with American Flamingo
Distribution
The American flamingo inhabits South America’s north coast, Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and some of the Caribbean islands. There is also a small isolated population that inhabits the Galapagos Islands. It is the only flamingo that is native to North America. It lives in a wide variety of freshwater and saline habitats such as lagoons, estuaries, coastal and inland lakes, and mud flats.
Geography
Climate zones
Habits and Lifestyle
Flamingos live, feed and mate in large flocks, which may number thousands of individuals. When mating and interacting with others in the colony, they use highly ritualized displays. Most of the day American flamingos spend feeding. They are shy, and fly away if disturbed. Both adults and juveniles spend most of their time feeding, preening and resting. Each individual becomes aggressively territorial when foraging for food. A bird claims a "territory" and doesn’t allow others to come nearby. If one does come too close, the bird that has been offended will exhibit threatening displays in warning, so that the intruder will leave. A colony establishes distinct areas where the birds can freely interact, the drinking area being one such place. The American flamingo is very nomadic, and travels hundreds of kilometers, depending on the availability of resources.
Diet and Nutrition
American flamingos eat insects, worms, algae and vegetation. Flamingos eat in an amusing manner. They position their beaks in the water upside down and suck water into them. They then pump the water out of the sides of their beaks. Tiny animals and plants remain to provide a tasty meal.
Mating Habits
American flamingos are monogamous, with strong, long-term pair-bonds. They engage in group courtship displays, thousands of birds turning their heads, bowing their necks or raising their wings in spectacular synchrony. These displays make sure that the colony members are all ready for mating at the same time. These birds mate after the rainy season, typically in spring or summer. The parents both build the nest. Usually just one egg is laid, and is incubated by both male and female for 27 to 31 days. Both parents feed the chick, with the typical “milk” that is secreted in the adults’ upper digestive tract. The chick is brooded for about 5-15 days, and then it gathers with other chicks in large crèches which several adults look after. It fledges at about 70-75 days old and becomes sexually mature when it is 3-5 years old.
Population
Population threats
American flamingos are threatened with human disturbance and habitat loss along the Caribbean’s coastal wetlands.
Population number
IUCN Red List estimates the number of mature individuals to be around 260,000-330,000 birds. Overall, the numbers of this species are increasing today, and it is classified as least concern (LC).
Ecological niche
American flamingos eat large amounts of crustaceans, aquatic invertebrates, and algae, and so have a big impact on these populations.
Fun Facts for Kids
- The American flamingo, like all flamingos, is a noisy bird. Its voice plays an important part in keeping the flock together. Sounds vary according to the type of activity, usually low gabbling while feeding, and nasal honking during flight. Courtship displays may be accompanied by growling and grunting.
- American flamingos sometimes feed while swimming, upending like ducks, paddling with their feet to keep their position. These large flamingos can reach down as far as 120-130 cm, which enables them to access more food.
- Each day flamingos spend 15-30% of their time cleaning their feathers, spreading oil that is produced from a special gland over feathers with their beak.
- The visible "knee" of a flamingo is, in fact, an ankle joint. The true knee is near to the body and is hidden by the feathers.
- A flamingo’s neck has 19 bones and their feathers and beaks are made of a strong substance called keratin.