Flamingo

Hello! I am a flamingo. I am a tall bird with very long, skinny legs. My legs are perfect for wading and splashing in the water where I live. I also have a long, bendy neck that can curve into a question mark. When I first hatched from my egg, I wasn't pink at all. My first feathers were soft and gray, like a little fluffy cloud. I had to wait to get my beautiful pink color.

Do you want to know my secret? I get my bright pink color from the food I eat. It’s true. My favorite snacks are tiny pink shrimp and little green plants called algae that live in the water. Eating lots of these yummy snacks is what turns my gray feathers into a beautiful, bright pink. Isn't that a fun trick? You might also see me doing something that looks a little wobbly. I love to stand on just one leg. I tuck my other leg up under my body. It looks tricky, but it is a very comfortable way for me to rest and take a little nap in the sunshine.

I am never lonely because I always live with my family. We don't just have a few family members, we have a huge family called a flock. Sometimes there are thousands of us standing together in the water. It looks like a big, pink party. We are very noisy and love to chat with each other. We make loud honking sounds to say hello. Living together helps us stay safe. We also have a very important job. By eating lots of little things in the water, we help keep our watery home clean and healthy for all the other animals who live there.