There are six species of flamingos worldwide, including the American (or Caribbean) flamingo, which breeds in both the Caribbean and the Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos population is genetically distinct from the Caribbean population, with notable differences such as smaller size, variations in body shape, sexual dimorphism, and smaller eggs. These large and elegant birds are primarily pink, with black-tipped wings that are visible only during flight. As with other flamingo species, their pink coloration comes from the carotenoid pigments found in their diet. These pigments are present in foods such as algae, crustaceans, and microscopic plant materials. The more carotenoids a flamingo consumes, the more vibrant its pink color becomes. These pigments also affect the bird’s skin, blood, and even the yolk of their eggs. In the Galapagos, flamingos have a diverse diet that includes crustaceans, mollusks, worms, insects, plant material, algae, and seeds. All flamingos have developed a unique feeding technique: they shuffle their feet to stir up the substrate, bringing potential food to the surface. Then, with their bills inverted and heads submerged, they use their tongues as pistons to draw in water. The water is then expelled through the sides of their mouths, passing through filtering plates in their bills that separate food from mud and debris. To reproduce, American flamingo colonies require shallow waters for their synchronized courtship dances. After a successful courtship, flamingos build cone-shaped nests about 20-25 centimeters tall, where the female lays a single egg. Both parents share the responsibility of incubating the egg for about 30 days. Once hatched, the chick quickly leaves the nest to join a crèche with other chicks, guarded by a few adult flamingos. Flamingo chicks are born grey with straight bills that begin to curve after about three weeks, and they are ready to fly within 65-90 days. Flamingos are one of the few bird species that feed their young directly from a secretion produced in their crop, known as crop milk. This milk is bright pink due to the high carotenoid content. The demands of rearing their chicks are so great that by the end of the breeding season, both male and female parents may lose their pink coloration and appear almost white.