Book 1, Question 35 · Video
Why Are Flamingos Pink? It Starts With Their Dinner!
Flamingo chicks are not born pink, they start out fluffy and light grey. Flamingos eat shrimp and algae rich in carotenoids, which are natural pigments, and the pigment settles in
Read the full answer →What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hi! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why are flamingos pink?
The Big Idea
Hello, color detectives! Flamingos are famous for their bright pink feathers. But here's a surprise: that pink comes from their food! Let's solve this colorful science mystery, in three steps!
Not Born Pink
Step one: flamingo chicks are not born pink! Baby flamingos hatch with fluffy, gray and white feathers. It takes about two to three years for their feathers to turn fully pink. So where does the pink come from?
Colorful Food
Step two: they eat shrimp and algae, rich in carotenoids! Carotenoids are natural pigments, or colors, found in certain foods. Flamingos dip their heads upside down, and strain tiny shrimp and algae from the water. Every bite is full of color!
Pink Pigment
Step three: the carotenoids turn into pink pigment! Inside the body, they're changed into pink and red pigments. Those pigments settle into growing feathers, and even color the skin, legs, and beak. Ta-da! A pink flamingo!
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look at a flamingo. Its bent beak works like a strainer, filtering food from the water. Its feathers show off the pink pigments from its meals. And its long legs let it wade into shallow water, to find food. The more color it eats, the pinker it gets!
Quick Facts
Quick facts! Poor diet means faded pink! Without enough shrimp and algae, flamingos lose their color. Zoos give flamingos special food with carotenoids, to keep them pink. Flamingo parents feed chicks a red crop milk, and can turn paler while they do! And a group of flamingos is called a flamboyance!
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! Compare colors and foods. Carrots have beta-carotene, an orange carotenoid. Shrimp are rich in astaxanthin, a pink-orange carotenoid. And flamingos turn these pigments into feather color! What pattern do you notice? Orange, pink, and more. They're all one color family!
Outro
So flamingos are pink because of what they eat. Nature gives them their perfect rosy glow! Remember, Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!