Scientific name of flamingo is Phoenicopterus. Flamingos are big, colorful birds that live in South America and Africa. Flamingos also live in the warmer regions of Southern Europe and Western Asia. Flamingos live in packs (colonies), which include up to about 200 birds, and feed on fish from freshwater lakes and rivers. Flamingos, as a rule, live on average about 30 years, although it is not uncommon for some flamingos to live to 50 years.
Most flamingos have orange-colored feathers, but some may have a white, black or even blue color. The color of flamingos depends on what kind of algae they eat. The pigment from these algae then turns flamingos into bright pink birds, which we know so well.
Despite the fact that flamingos nest only once a year, the flamingo colonies are known to breed at any time of the year. Flamingo reaches puberty (which means that the flamingo is able to multiply) at the age of 3 to 6 years. Flamingos build their nests from mud, stones and feathers.
It will take about 6 weeks after mating, before the flamingo females lay their eggs. Flamingos, as a rule, postpone only one egg, which hatch after a 30-day incubation period. Both mother and father of flamingos help each other in the care of the chick.
