Why the flamingos live in groups

You're at the zoo with your family and notice a large group of flamingos in the bird enclosure. They look funny with their pink feathers and most of them standing on one leg! Have you ever wondered why flamingos are pink or why they live in water? Let’s learn more about these interesting birds.

In the wild, flamingos prefer warm places near lakes and rivers. They tend to stay close together in groups called colonies. Being in a group helps keep them safe from predators. Flamingos often hunt and eat with their heads in the mud. The other birds watch out for threats while one feeds.

Flamingos eat both plants and animals. They are called omnivores. A big part of their diet is tiny shrimp. The pink color of the shrimp turns the flamingos’ feathers pink! In zoos or places where people feed them, they don’t get pink unless they eat shrimp provided by caretakers.

These birds also enjoy eating algae, plankton, and small insects. When a flamingo finds food, it puts its head into the water. It twists its neck so its head is upside down and then uses its beak to scoop out the food.