Greater flamingo

The pink bird that stands on one leg

Flamingos are pink because they eat pink shrimp! Chicks are born grey and turn pink as they eat. Flamingos come to Uzbekistan too — to Lakes Aydarkul and Sudochye. They sleep standing on one leg and filter food from the water with their heads upside down.

The greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) is the largest flamingo species, found in Africa, southern Europe and Asia. In Uzbekistan, thousands stop at the Aydar-Arnasay lakes, Sudochye and Aral-region wetlands during migration, and in some years they nest. The pink colour comes from carotenoids in their food. The beak is bent 'upside down': with its head in the water, the bird pumps water with its tongue and filters out tiny organisms. Flamingos form colonies of hundreds of thousands and choose mates with a 'dance'.

Fun facts

• A flamingo gets its pink colour from food — change its diet and it turns white!
• Parents feed their chick with 'red milk'.
• Standing on one leg is actually easier for a flamingo — its muscles don't get tired.