In the pink (and very bright too!)
The crimson Caribbean flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) is an unmistakable bird. A close relative of the greater flamingo, Caribbean flamingos are vivid in colour and contrary to (some) popular belief, they have not been dyed, the colour of their feathers is all natural. WWT Slimbridge houses a large flock of these amazing birds and they are in tip-top condition; even on the dullest of days, Caribbean flamingos bring a splash of colour to the surroundings. The tallest species of flamingo, Caribbeans are also known as rosy, Cuban or American flamingos befitting their intense colour and wide-range across the West Indies, into North America and over to the Galapagos Islands. Wild Caribbean flamingos are increasingly pressurised by human development across their range that can impact on breeding success. Fortunately, Caribbean flamingos have been successfully bred for many years in captivity so you may well see youngsters on a visit to WWT Slimbridge, or WWT Llanelli that also houses this species, during the summertime. More about the breeding display of this species in future posts.
