Flamingoes are grey when they hatch. They turn pink from the cartinoid pigments present in the algae and crustaceans which they eat. Their liver breaks down the food into orange and pink pigment molecules that are stored in their feathers. The more a flamingo eats, the better and brighter their plumage is, so their colour is also a sexual selection characteristic used by the females when assessing the male's health.
Isn't it surprising and intruiging? What of humans had different skin tones based on the amount of food they eat? Would it be used for the same purposes? Imagine that you have just exercised and you are feeling hungry... Your colour would change (maybe). So isn't it great how flamingoes recognize their fellow mates?
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| A Chilean Flamingo Plucking its Feathers |
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