15 Flamingos Fun Facts for Kids. No More Wondering Why

The flamingo is one of the cutest birds to have ever lived. Its pink color makes it very aesthetic to look at. They are very elegant when they walk. And when they fly, never underestimate their speed. Everyone, especially kids, love learning some fun facts about flamingos!

This bird is not only beautiful to look at but also to draw. No wonder there are many flamingos artworks that you can see on social media or the internet. Flamingos artworks are usually used for smartphone wallpaper due to their attractive color, especially for girls.

Behind its beautiful appearance, there are exciting and unique facts about Flamingos that kids will absolutely love. From the anatomy of this bird and, of course, the color of its body, let’s find out the facts to answer your ‘why’ questions about this cutie.

1. Flamingos Don’t Have Teeth

Ever wonder how Flamingos chew their food? These birds use the bill as the filter with numerous complex rows of lamellae. This has functioned as a food filter. It can capture algae, shrimp, and any other foods that are always consumed by Flamingos.

So, when looking for Flamingos’ teeth, you won’t find them because they don’t have any teeth inside their mouth. However, they do have a filter-like mouth. It is without a doubt unique fun facts about flamingos that all kids should know!

2. The Oldest Flamingo Can Live Up To 83 Years

Yes, you don’t read it wrong because the oldest flamingo that had ever lived was 83 years old. Its name is Greater, the most famous Flamingo in Australia’s Adelaide Zoo. Due to some complicated illnesses such as arthritis and being nearly blind, it died at 83 years old in 2014. Greater was born at the end of the Great Depression and survived World War II.

3. Flamingos Have Pink Color From Their Food

The flamingo is an esthetic-looking bird because of the beautiful pink color all over its body. That pink color is a result of their food. intake Beta-carotene from algae, brine fly larvae, and brine shrimps are found in high amounts inside Flamingo’s body.

Inside the digestive systems, carotenoids break down into pigments that are easily absorbed in the liver and then into the feathers and skins. Since the Flamingo consistently consumes the same food, then the carotenoids become higher and able to color its body. It is one of the most bizarre fun facts about flamingos that you kids should learn! You are what you eat!

4. The Flamingo’s Brain Is Smaller Than Its Eyes

Wondering how small the brain of Flamingos is? Then, you can see their eyes and remember that the brain of a Flamingo is smaller than its eyes. Although small, it can make Flamingo live for up to 83 years. Can you imagine how tiny it is but still functional and vital for Flamingo’s life?

5. A Flamingo Can Fly and Reach A Speed Of 60 km/hour

It is pretty amazing to know that a Flamingo can fly and reach speeds up to 60km/hour. The same as riding a vehicle when your dad is in a rush! This makes the Flamingo look perfect since it can walk elegantly with its beautiful feather that you love to see. Then when it is time to fly, the Flamingo can reach maximum speed to expedite the journey.

6. There Are Blue Flamingos In The Isla Pinzon

Flamingos, actually, not only come in pink color but also blue. Yes, both colors are very attractive for the kids. In Isla Pinzon, South America, blue flamingos live there. The bodies are shorter with blue color all over them, and people usually call it South American Blue Flamingo.

While baby flamingos are usually white, the baby South American Blue flamingos already have pale blue color on their bodies. Also, do not expect to see the South American Blue Flamingo with American Flamingo (the pink one) in one place because they cannot live together.

7. A Group Of Flamingos Is Called Flamboyance

Flamingos usually fly and live in a group. If your kids wonder if there is a name for a group of flamingos, yes, there is a name for it. Flamboyance is the name of a group of flamingos.

Flamingos flock together by hundreds or thousands in lagoons, lakes, or swamps. So, if you think the group of Flamingos only consists of ten or twenty birds, you have to brace yourself for seeing a thousand flamingos in one place together. This is one of the most majestic fun facts that you kids should witness directly one day!

8. Flamingos Sleep With Their Heads On Their Backs and Standing By One Leg On A Long Period

We often see Flamingos laying their heads on their backs and standing on one leg, and we also often think that they may hurt their heads by doing that thing. You don’t have to worry anymore because Flamingos laid their heads on their backs in order to sleep or rest. They can do this for a long time, and nothing can affect their bodies untill they feel recharged and fresh after enough sleep.

9. Flamingo Can Fly Up To 640 km

It is impressive to know that behind their elegance and adorable appearance, Flamingos are strong birds. They can fly for up to 640 km in one hop. So, if they fly within a day, the average speed for Flamingos fly is around 55 km/hour. It must be very interesting to see a flamboyance flying in the sky.

10. Baby flamingo Is Called Flaminglet

Baby flamingos are very cute and fascinating to see. They are different from adult Flamingos since their body color is pale. It is because the food they consume is not as much as the adult one, so the color hasn’t emerged yet. Flaminglet, you can call baby flamingo with this term.

It is not only an adorable name for the baby Flamingo, and it describes the appearance of the baby well. This is definitely one of the cutest fun facts about flamingos that you kids will adore!

11. Flamingos Do Not Blink

Flamingos belong to the bird family, and birds do not blink like humans. So, how do the Flamingos blink and keep their eyes clean? Thanks to nictitating membranes, the eyes are kept clean and lubricated by a third eyelid which is usually called nictitating membranes. Instead of moving ups and downs, the nictitating membrane sweeps across the eye horizontally like a wiper.

12. Flamingo Will Turn To Its Color Within the First Couple Of Their Age

As we mentioned before, a flaminglet or baby Flamingo is born in a white or clear one. The pink hasn’t appeared yet due to the food they consume. Then, you can see the pink color can be seen clearly within the first couple of their age.

It is, again, because the beta carotene that the Flamingo consume is already enough to distribute and absorb as the color of their bodies. They are just like you, kids, from the baby, then transform into the real creature and can do what adults usually do as well.

13. Flamingos Make Their Nest With Mud

Since Flamingos live in swamp areas, they build nests with mud. The nest looks like mounds of mud along waterways. But it is pretty safe for the female Flamingo to lay one egg at the top of the mound where there is a shallow hole on it. Then, the female Flamingo will take turns sitting on the egg to keep it warm. Usually, they do it for a month or 30 days to make the egg hatches.

14. Bright Pink Flamingo Is More Aggressive Than The Paler Ones

When we see flamboyance in a lake or zoo, there are flamingos with very bright pink and paler ones. According to research, very pink feathers mean the animals are in good health and ready to breed. Therefore, no wonder that the bright pink one can be more aggressive, especially if it is about food.

It is because they are more active and energized, compared to paler ones.

15. Hunting and Eating Flamingo Is Illegal

Flamingos are protected animals under federal law in the U.S. In order to keep the population of Flamingos good, the government and related institutions prohibit hunting and eating Flamingos for any reason. Some say that Flamingos are rich in omega-3 due to the food diet during their life. But still, how dare you eat these cuties!

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