WHAT DO FLAMINGOS EAT?

When you think if flamingos you automatically think of pink. But the trouble with flamingoes is that their natural feather colour is actually grey, a colour from which which gradually turns to pink as they get older.

Flamingo feeding

This is backed up by observing flamingos kept in captivity - not fed on their native foodstuffs - who end up losing their pink colour.

We know that Flamingos filter-feed on brine shrimp and blue-green algae.

In fact, their beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they eat, and are uniquely used upside-down. Furthermore, the filtering of food items is assisted by hairy structures called lamellae which line the mandibles, and the large rough-surfaced tongue.

For related articles click onto the following links:
FLAMINGO FACTS
WHAT DO FLAMINGOS EAT?
WHERE DO FLAMINGOS LIVE?
WHY ARE FLAMINGOS PINK?