Flamingos Are Actually White; Their Pink Color Comes From What They Eat

The flamingos we imagine as dreamy pink are actually greyish-white 'ugly ducklings' when they're born. The Secret of Pigmentation: Flamingos turn pink entirely due to their diet. Their staple foods include algae, brine shrimp, and aquatic insects, all rich in carotenoids. The Dyeing Process: When flamingos digest this food, enzymes in their liver break down the pigments, which then dissolve in fat. As their feathers grow, these pigments gradually deposit, dyeing them a romantic pink or reddish-orange. If a zoo stops feeding them specific pigment-containing feed, a flamingo's feathers will gradually fade back to their original white-grey color.