Seven baby flamingos born at Whipsnade Zoo
- Published
Seven Caribbean flamingo chicks have all hatched at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo over the past three weeks. Chicks are born grey or white. Their trademark pink feathers won’t start to grow for six months.
The word 'flamingo' comes from the Spanish and Latin word 'flamenco' which means fire, and refers to the bright colour of the birds' feathers.
Flamingos lay only a single egg each year. If that egg is lost or damaged, they do not typically lay a replacement.
All of the adult flamingos in the group take turns caring for the chicks. You’ll often find the chicks in the middle of the flock, with aunties and uncles watching over the young.
Flamingos live between 20-30 years in the wild, but have been recorded as living up to 50 years or longer in captivity.