Why are flamingos pink?

The story behind the answer

Flamingos are pink because their diet is rich in carotenoid pigments—especially astaxanthin and canthaxanthin—from algae, brine shrimp, and other small crustaceans. Their digestive system breaks these pigments down and deposits the color in their feathers, skin, and beaks. Without these foods, flamingos turn pale or white, which is why zoos supplement their diets.

Fun facts to remember: flamingo chicks hatch gray-white and gradually blush as they eat carotenoid-rich food—think “you are what you eat.” The color isn’t from sunbathing or muddy water, and while genes let them process carotenoids, genetics alone doesn’t make them pink. Different species and diets produce shades from soft blush to vibrant coral.