The flamingo's body, with its long neck, spindly pink legs and webbed feet, is ideally designed for its habitat. As a filter feeder, this bird is able to search for food in deep water while the bristles inside its bill efficiently separate the food from the water. The life cycle of the flamingo also testifies of this bird's ability to thrive.
Courtship
The female attracts the male through vocalizations and physical movements.
Gestation
One or two oblong-shaped eggs are laid in a mud nest. It takes about a month for the eggs to hatch.
First Few Weeks
Baby flamingos leave the nest after 14 days and join a group of similarly aged chicks guarded by a few adults. Their own parents feed them, recognizing them through vocalizations.
Coloring
Born with grayish down feathers, the distinctive pink feathering fully develops in three years.
Age of Maturity
Breeding can begin between three and five years old. Flamingos appear to be monogamous.
Lifespan
Flamingos typically live for 30 years, possibly longer in captivity.
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