Flamingos are born grey and turn pink from pigments in the food they eat.

The longer version

Carotenoids are pigment molecules produced by algae and some small crustaceans, and animals cannot manufacture them. A flamingo gets its colour entirely from diet, filtering tiny organisms from water and mud with a specialised bill lined with hair-like plates.

Enzymes in the liver break the pigments down and deposit them in growing feathers, skin and eventually the egg yolk and the fat of a chick. Without that supply, a captive bird fed a diet lacking carotenoids fades toward white over successive moults. The shade therefore acts as a visible record of feeding success, and brighter individuals tend to be those with access to the richest feeding grounds.

Where this entry sits

This collection gathers small surprises about mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fish, insects, and the pets living alongside people. Expect odd details about senses, anatomy, and everyday behaviour that many people never notice in the animals around them. The full list sits on the Animals page, where every entry is listed in order.