CARRIBEAN FLAMINGO
Phoenicopterus ruber ruber
Where do I Live? The Caribbean flamingo is found throughout the Caribbean including Cuba, the Bahamas and Southern Florida, the Galapagos Islands and the Northern coast of South America. Thousands of these birds live together in salt lakes, lagoons and mudflats.
Description: Caribbean flamingos stand between 1.2-1.4 m in height, with females being smaller than males with shorter legs. They have a wingspan of approximately 1.5 m and they weigh between 2.2—2.8kgs. These flamingos have the brightest plumage of all the flamingo species - they are deep pink/red/orange in colour. As young birds they are grey but their plumage slowly turns pink as they mature. They have long, pink legs with their knees being a slightly darker pink, and webbed feet for wading. Neck and legs are longer, relative to body size, than any other bird.
How do I communicate? Caribbean flamingos have a loud, deep honking call that is similar to that of a goose. They make a variety of sounds including a "low gabbling noise" during feeding. Grunting, growling noises are made during breeding or aggressive displays.
What do I eat? Caribbean Flamingos feed upon insects, worms, vegetation and algae. They mainly feed during the day and they sweep their bill upside down through shallow water picking up food as they go. They are filter feeders, they suck up a variety of small animals including shrimp and crustaceans. Their jaws have ridged edges and their tongue pumps up and down, 5 - 6 times per second, pushing the water and mud out of their beak, so the bird swallows little except its prey.
Pink? Like our Scarlet Ibis the flamingos’ colour is a result of their diet. Their brilliant red, hot pinks, corals and oranges come from the “carotenoid” pigments in the algae and in some of the crustaceans that the birds eat (similar to the pigment in carrots). Their scientific name “Phoenicopterus” is from the Greek word for flamingo and means 'red-feathered'.
A single egg is laid in a mud nest. Both parents help to incubate the egg for about one month. Lifespan can be over 30 years in the wild
Look out for Breeding displays— Done in groups to synchronize breeding in a colony.
· Wing salute- wings are spread for a few seconds, showing a flash of colour; the neck is stretched out and the tail is flipped up. Usually followed by head twist to the back.
· Wing-leg stretch- simultaneous stretch of one wing and leg on the same side.
· Twist-preening- rapidly alternating between stretching neck forward and twisting head around to the back, bill touching shoulders
· Head flagging- head held high, neck stretched, head slowly and rhythmically turns left and right
· Head shaking- bend neck, head waggles side to side.
· Marching- tight group marches together in one direction, then suddenly flips around and walks the other direction.
· Bowing: neck stretched forward, and angled down toward the water; wings are open about a third
