American Flamingo

## Description

The American flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber ) is a large species of flamingo closely related to the greater flamingo and Chilean flamingo native to the Neotropics. It was formerly considered conspecific with the greater flamingo, but that treatment is now widely viewed (e.g. by the American and British Ornithologists' Unions) as incorrect due to a lack of evidence. It is also known as the Caribbean flamingo, although it is also present in the Galápagos Islands. It is the only flamingo that naturally inhabits North America.

## Appearance

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.

## Distribution

The American flamingo inhabits South America’s north coast, the 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 mudflats.

## Behavior

Flamingos live, feed, and breed 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. Like other flamingo species, American flamingos will migrate short distances to ensure that they get enough food or because their current habitat has been disturbed in some way. While their flights are not as long as other migratory birds, flamingos still fly for periods without eating.

## Diet

American flamingos eat mainly brine, shrimps, mollusks, but also marine worms, insects, and algae. 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.

## Reproduction

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 the male and the female for 27 to 31 days. Both parents feed the chick, with the typical “crop 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 reproductively 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 its feathers and beaks are made of a strong substance called keratin.