Did you know birds are capable of creating their own “milk”?
A baby flamingo isn’t actually born pink! When they hatch, they are more of a whitish gray color. So, how do baby flamingos go from a gray fluffball to the remarkably colored adults we instantly recognize? This fascinating video from the BBC tells us a little bit more about how adult flamingos produce milk that changes the color of baby flamingos.
How baby flamingos get their pink colour | Animal Super Parents - BBC - YouTube
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How baby flamingos get their pink colour | Animal Super Parents - BBC
Why It Matters
Animals are fascinating, and looking more carefully into the animal kingdom is always amazing. By understanding more about different kinds of animals, we are better able to understand what sort of threats they face from humans and we can better determine the best ways to protect them.
The number of new discoveries waiting to happen on animals and nature in general never ceases to amaze!
Let's Talk About It
- Is it surprising to you that flamingos can produce milk? Why or why not?
- Now that you know a little bit more about the flamingo, what do you want to learn more about?
Can you think of other examples of animals that change how they look a lot as they grow up?
Thank You
Thanks to EWCed writer Kati Murphy from Clarkson University for this touchstone and for her contribution to EWCed!
Citations
“How Baby Flamingos Become Pink – Animal Super Parents: Episode 2 Preview – BBC One.” YouTube. BBC, 24 July 2015. Web. 19 June 2017. < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhVPoll3LUA >.