Flamingos are a group composed of six species of colorful aquatic birds. These very social birds travel in flocks of thousands of individual birds. Their unusual beaks are specialized for filtering brine shrimp and algae from the water.

History: The word flamingo derives from the Spanish word "flamengo," which means "flame" and refers to their intense reddish-pink color. This color is actually the result of the flamingos' diet, as they break down substances called carotenoids in brine shrimp and algae.

Scientific name: Family Phoenicopteridae

• Flamingos possess impressive red and pink plumage.
• They are found in South and Central America, Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and India.