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Flamingos use these tremendous flocks as a safety measure against predators, and larger flocks are more stable for population growth and breeding success. While a typical flock is only several dozen birds, flocks of up to a million or more have been recorded. Flamingos are gregarious birds that do not do well in very small flocks of just a few birds.These terms can apply to a flamingo flock of any size, but do not apply to just a pair of flamingos or one bird by itself. A flock of flamingos is called a stand, colony, regiment, or flamboyance.The actual knee is very close to the body and is not visible through the bird's plumage. The backward bending "knee" of a flamingo's leg is actually the bird's ankle.They will alternate legs to regulate their body temperature. Flamingos often stand on one leg to preserve body heat, tucking the other leg into their plumage so it is kept warm. An adult flamingo's legs can be 30- to 50-inches long, which is longer than its entire body.The lesser flamingo is the smallest flamingo and can reach 3-feet tall and typically weighs three to six pounds.
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The greater flamingo is the largest flamingo species and can measure up to 5-feet tall when standing erect with its head raised, but only weighs a maximum of eight pounds.In zoos and aviaries, captive flamingos are often fed a specialized diet that will help preserve and enhance their unique coloration. If those food sources do not provide enough pigmentation, flamingos may seem more gray or white, but they are still healthy and strong. A wild flamingo's diet includes shrimp, plankton, algae, and crustaceans skimmed from different water sources. The pink, orange, or red color of a flamingo's feathers is caused by carotenoid pigments in their food, the same pigments that make tomatoes red and carrots orange.Not all flamingos are brightly colored, however, and some of the birds are mostly gray or white. The word "flamingo" comes from the Spanish and Latin word "flamenco" which means fire, and refers to the bright color of the birds' feathers.Their young feathers are much less structured and fluffier than adult plumage, but that down provides excellent insulation to help keep baby flamingos warm. Flamingo chicks are born gray or white and take up to three years to reach their mature pink, orange, or red plumage.After a few months, their growing bills will develop the distinct "break" curve and they will be eating mostly on their own. A flamingo chick's bill is small and straight, without any distinct color patches.The Spruce Home Improvement Review Boardįlamingos are water-dwelling, long-necked, tropical birds known for their red and pink feathers (although some are white or grey) and comical profile in the landscape: they are often seen standing on just one foot.