Caribbean Flamingo Flashcards
What appears to be a knee on a flamingo is actually a _____.
Heel. (Flamingos walk on their toes)
What color are the feathers young flamingos?
White or gray.
What color are the legs and bills of young flamingos?
Pink or black.
How old are flamingos when they develop their adult coloration?
1 or 2 years
What is the wingspan of the Caribbean flamingo?
5 feet
How tall are Caribbean flamingos?
3 - 5 feet
How old are Caribbean flamingos when they are mature?
6 years
How much does the average Caribbean flamingo weigh?
7 pounds
How loyal are Caribbean flamingos to a particular mate?
They generally stay in long-term pair bonds, but some inter-breeding does occur.
Who builds the nests in a Caribbean flamingo relationship?
Both parents.
How do flamingos build nests?
They use their shovel-shaped bill to scoop up mud and build it into a mound with a shallow depression.
True or false? Flamingos continue to build their nest after the egg is laid.
True. They will continue to use sticks, leaves, mud, and feathers to build it.
How many months do Caribbean flamingos incubate their eggs for?
1 month
Where do young Caribbean flamingos go after they hatch?
They form groups (or creches) that are guarded by a few adults from the flock.
What do young flamingos eat?
Regurgitated liquid from both parents.
How long do young Caribbean flamingos eat the regurgitated liquids for?
Several months.
How long does it take young Caribbean flamingos to be able to forage on their own?
One month.
How months does it take young Caribbean flamingos to fledge?
3 months
How long can Caribbean flamingos live in captivity?
45 years
What is the range and habitat of the Caribbean flamingo?
Mudflats and shallow ponds and marshes (usually alkaline) in the Caribbean islands and Galapagos.
What islands do Caribbean flamingos breed on?
The Galapagos.
What is an alkaline lake?
A body of water with a very high amount of minerals.
How does a lake become alkaline?
When water flows in, but doesn’t flow out. Therefore, water can only escape by evaporation and thus, many minerals remain.
What do Caribbean flamingos eat?
Shrimp, shellfish, algae, macrophytes, and seeds.
How do Caribbean flamingos eat?
They filter water through their bill.
What is the synthetic carotenoid found in flamingo chow that allows captive flamingos to be pink?
Roxanthin.
True or false? The Caribbean flamingo is solitary.
VERY false.
How do flamingos socialize?
They bicker and squabble.
True or false? Flamingos can sometimes act like a hive mind, doing the same thing across the flock that one bird does.
True.
How do a flamingos webbed feet help it?
It allows them to swim and stir mud to find food.
Why do flamingos face into the wind while resting?
To prevent wind and rain from penetrating their feathers.
Why do flamingos stand on one leg?
To conserve body heat and allow blood to return to their heart more easily.
How many neck vertebrae do flamingos have?
19 (Humans have 7)
What is the greatest threat to flamingos?
Destruction of wetland.
What is the conservation status of the Caribbean flamingo?
Least concern.
Where has the Caribbean flamingo been extirpated?
Florida.
How do Caribbean flamingos initiate courtship?
The male will walk by the female and if she is interested, she will walk in sync with him.
