Flamingos eat algae, shrimp, and crustaceans rich in carotenoids (a type of pigment). These pigments turn their feathers pink or reddish. Without this diet, flamingos would be gray or white! Scientists believe this iconic pose helps flamingos regulate their body temperature by reducing heat loss through their legs. They feed by turning their heads upside down and using their beak to filter tiny organisms from water, much like baleen whales do with krill. #bird #birds #natgeoyourshot #bbcearth #b

#DidYouKnow that flamingos get their pink colour from their food? 🌸 They really are what they eat. Flamingos usually feed on algae and brine shrimp, which contain colour pigments called carotenoids. They are the same pigments that give carrots their orange colour or that make tomatoes turn red. The pigments are metabolised in the flamingo's body and make its feathers pink. Source: Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute #flamingos #nature #naturecalling #thepowerofmany #an