Images of flamingos, standing under palm trees, appear in paperweights and snow globes. Flamingos can swim, and flamingos can fly. There are 5 species of flamingos that occur throughout the world. The greater flamingo is as tall as a grown-up person is. The lesser flamingo is as tall as a first-grader.
Flamingos live in lagoons, or lakes, where there is lots of mud and water.
The depth of the water is especially important not only for feeding but for nesting. Lakes may be far inland or near the sea. Feather color varies with species, ranging from pale pink to crimson or vermilion. The Chilean flamingo is pale pink. A flamingo's pink or reddish feather color comes from its diet, which is high in alpha and beta-carotene.