What gives flamingo feathers their characteristic pink or red color?

Carotenoid pigments give flamingo feathers their characteristic pink or red color.

Flamingos obtain these pigments from their diet, especially algae and small crustaceans such as brine shrimp. Carotenoids are absorbed and deposited in growing feathers, skin, and other tissues. The exact shade differs among species and can range from pale pink to deep crimson.

Young flamingos hatch with gray or whitish plumage, so they are not born bright pink. Their color develops as they consume pigment-rich food. A poor diet can make an adult’s plumage noticeably paler, while strong coloration can signal good feeding condition.

The pigments are not unique to flamingos. Carotenoids also help color many birds’ yellow, orange, and red feathers. Flamingos are simply among the most recognizable examples of diet-driven coloration in zoo animals.