A flamingo is a tall wading bird famous for its bright pink or reddish feathers and its habit of standing on one leg. Flamingos live in large flocks near shallow lakes and lagoons in warm places like Florida, the Caribbean, and parts of Africa and South America.

Their striking color comes from their diet. Flamingos eat tiny shrimp and algae that contain natural pigments called carotenoids (the same substance that makes carrots orange). The more of these foods they eat, the pinker they become. A flamingo in a zoo might look pale if it doesn't get the right diet, while wild flamingos often display vibrant pink or even red plumage.

Flamingos feed by dipping their unusual curved beaks upside down in the water and using their tongues to pump water through comb-like filters that trap food. They often stand on one leg while resting, though scientists still debate exactly why. Some think it helps them conserve body heat, since standing in cool water all day can feel chilly.

Baby flamingos, called chicks, hatch with gray or white feathers and only turn pink as they grow and start eating the same diet as adults. When thousands of flamingos gather together, the sight of their pink bodies reflected in the water creates one of nature's most spectacular scenes.