flamingoes & pelicans

Why do flamingoes stand on one leg?

• how they thermoregulate temperature

flamingo info

• Have binocular ability on the eyes where they can see the tip of their beaks

• Live in large colonies

• Can survive in harsh conditions like high salinity and alkalinity

• At 4-6 years, they turn from gray-brown to pink which is a sign of sexual maturity

• Plumage color is caused by carotenoids found in algae, crustaceans and mollusks

• Divided into two groups depending on their diet:

  • Phoenicopterus species: possess a shallow bill and feed primarily on arthropods and mollusks

    • Deep-billed Phoenicoparrus and Phoeniconaias: feed on algae and diatoms

• Flamingos “walk-feed” moving forward with the bill in the substrate

flamingo uropygial gland

• excrete preen oils containing carotenoids which are applied as additional cosmetic coloration of feathers

flamingo reproduction

• Lay one egg and it is then incubated for 28-30 days and males/females share the upkeep

• Group courtship display is performed by box sexes

• Fed with “crop milk”

pelican info

• Order Pelecaniformes: 4 toe webbed feet

• Have a unique gular pouch which lets them keep prey in the mouth but let water out

  • Also used for courtship displays

• Among the largest flying birds and fly in groups

pelican reproduction

• Mature white pelicans have a keraninized growth on the dorsal maxilla during the breeding season and this growth is shed at the end of the season

• Both sexes incubate eggs and participate in rearing chicks