Adaptations
Senses
- Flamingos have good hearing. Vocalizations are important and may be used to keep flocks together and for parent-chick recognition.
- Vision plays an important role in helping flamingos synchronize collective displays (social behaviors) of several hundred to several thousand birds.
- Tactile organs on the tongue can be used to examine food taken in.
- The sense of taste is poorly developed in birds.
- Flamingos have little or no sense of smell.
Feet
- Because flamingos have long legs, they can wade into much deeper water than most other birds. Webbed feet support them on soft mud.
- When the water is beyond their wading depth, flamingos swim at the surface while feeding. Webbed feet allow the flamingo to swim