Flamingo ~ Caribbean

Also known as the American Flamingo, is found throughout the northern countries of South America, the Caribbean Islands and are known to nest in the Galapagos. The Caribbean species is morphologically similiar to the other flamingos, all of which possess a specially designed beck, which they use as a pump to suck in water and filter out the small invertebrates that compose their diet. The characteristic bright pink plumage of the flamingo results from the carotene they obtain through this diet. They possess long legs which help them to maneuver in shallow lakes where they are most common. You can often find flamingos standing on one leg and tucking in their long necks in order to conserve body heat. Flamingos communicate within their social groupings through a series of honks similar, but slightly lower in pitch, than geese. Lifespan can be as long as 50 years.