Which bird is known for its pink color from eating shrimp?

The flamingo is known for its pink color, which develops from carotenoids in its food, including shrimp and other plankton. The color is acquired through diet rather than being a permanent pigment present from birth.

Flamingos are filter-feeders that eat brine shrimp, algae, cyanobacteria, larvae, insects, mollusks, and other small crustaceans. Their bills are specially shaped to strain food from mud and shallow water, and they often feed with their heads upside down.

Carotenoids are natural pigments also found in foods such as carrots. As flamingos digest these compounds, pigments are deposited in their feathers and skin. Birds with access to more carotenoid-rich food can appear deeper pink or reddish, while those receiving less may be paler.

A common misconception is that shrimp alone create the color. Shrimp contribute, but algae and other plankton are important sources too. Young flamingos are much duller, and their bright adult plumage develops gradually as they feed.