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American Flamingo
Contour body feather

American Flamingo

Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Order: Phoenicopteriformes, Family: Phoenicopteridae, Genus: Phoenicopterus, Species: P. ruber

Family: Phoenicopteridae (Flamingos)

Shape
Symmetrical vane with a curved, tapered, pointed tip and slightly loose structure.
Size
Approximately 4 to 5 inches long, typical of a medium contour or covert feather from the body or wing tract of an adult flamingo.
Rarity
Uncommon to Rare depending on the specific region, though populations are generally stable in protected reserves.
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Description

A striking pink feather from the American Flamingo, a large wading bird known for its distinctive pink plumage, long spindly legs, and specialized downward-bent bill used for filter-feeding on algae and small crustaceans.

Colour & Pattern

Vibrant, uniform bright salmon-pink or reddish-orange coloration derived from carotenoid pigments in their diet, typical of an adult American Flamingo.

Barb Structure

Semi-plumulaceous structure with a mix of pennaceous upper barbs and loose, fluffy plumulaceous barbs near the base. Barbs are intact but slightly disunited.

Texture & Surface

Soft, silky, and somewhat loose texture with a matte finish, lacking extreme rigidity due to the semi-plumed nature of flamingo body feathers.

Key Features

Brilliant salmon-pink to reddish-orange color, curved tapered shape, and a semi-plumed structure with a fine pink rachis.

Habitat

Shallow saline or alkaline lakes, lagoons, mangrove swamps, and tidal flats in tropical and subtropical coastal regions.

Geographic Range

Caribbean islands, parts of northern South America, the Galápagos Islands, and the southern tip of the Florida peninsula.

Ecological Role

Acts as a key consumer in shallow wetland ecosystems, helping regulate populations of aquatic invertebrates and micro-organisms.

Similar Species

Roseate Spoonbill feathers can share a similar pink hue, but spoonbill feathers often exhibit different structural rigidity and distinct pale highlights.

Interesting Facts

Flamingos are born with grayish-white plumage; their iconic pink and red colors come entirely from the carotenoid pigments in the shrimp, algae, and crustaceans they consume.

Condition Notes

Good condition with minor wear along the edges of the vane and a few slightly separated barbs, but structurally intact.

American Flamingo | Feather Identifier