Flamingo animal
There are 12 principal flight feathers located on each wing. A flamingo's large, fleshy tongue is covered with bristle-like projections that help filter water and food particles through the lamellae.Īdult feathers have a small, delicate, accessory feather arising from the main feather at the point where the quill merges into the shaft of the feather.The lower mandible of Caribbean, greater, and Chilean flamingos is wide, allowing them to feed on larger foods such as brineflies, shrimp, and molluscs.James' and Andean flamingos have a deep, narrow trough-like lower mandible, which allows them to eat small foods such as algae and diatoms.The Chilean flamingo has about 5 to 6 lamellae per cm (13-15 per in.). The James' flamingo has about 21 lamellae per cm (53 per in.). The Andean flamingo has about 9 lamellae per cm (23 per in.).
The number of lamellae in a flamingo's bill varies according to species.When the mandibles come together, the lamellae of the upper and lower mandibles mesh. Both the upper and lower mandibles contain two rows of a bristled, comb-like or hair-like structure called lamellae.Tooth-like ridges on the outside of a flamingo's bill help filter food from the water.The lower mandible is large and trough- or keel-shaped. The upper mandible is thin and flat, and functions like a lid to the lower mandible.The upper and lower bill, or mandible, is angled downward just below the nostril. The bill is adapted for filter feeding.An adult flamingo's bill is black, pinkish, or cream-colored.Flamingo chicks have gray eyes for approximately the first year of life.The eyes are located on either side of the head.A flamingo has 19 elongated cervical (neck) vertebrae allowing for maximum movement and twisting. These black feathers are visible when the wings are extended. There are 12 principal flight feathers located on each wing.The Caribbean flamingo has a wingspan of 150 cm (59 in.). The wingspan of flamingos ranges from 95 to 100 cm (37-39 in.) on the lesser flamingo to 140 to 165 cm (55-65 in.) on the greater flamingo.Coloration of the feet and legs is the same.Webbing between the toes aids the bird in swimming and stirring up food.Andean and James' flamingos have three toes and no hallux.The Chilean, greater, and lesser flamingos have three forward-pointing toes and a hallux, or hind toe.The knee is located close to the body and is not externally visible.The ankle is located about halfway up the leg.The legs of adult flamingos are longer than the flamingo's body, measuring between 80 to 125 cm (31.5-49 in.), depending on the species.The Andean flamingo is the only species that has yellow legs and feet. Parents may lose some of their pink coloration while raising young.Ĭoloration of a flamingo's legs and feet varies according to species - from yellow to orange or pink-red.
#Flamingo animal full#
Juveniles are grayish, taking approximately one to two years to obtain full adult coloration. Male and female flamingo coloration is the same.
#Flamingo animal full size#
Males reach full size between one-and-a-half and two years. The lesser flamingo is the smallest flamingo, standing 80 cm (31.5 in.) and weighing only 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs.). The greater flamingo is the tallest flamingo, standing 120 to 150 cm (47-59 in.) and weighing up to 3.5 kg (7.7 lbs.).