American Flamingo

A beautiful contour feather from the American Flamingo. The bird itself is iconic for its long neck, stilt-like legs, and vibrant pink plumage, which averages 47–57 inches in height.

Distinctive salmon-pink to reddish-orange tip fading into a creamy white or pale pink base. The coloration is carotenoid-based.

The distal half is pennaceous (smooth and interlocked), while the proximal base is plumulaceous (downy and fluffy) for thermoregulation.

Smooth and slightly waxy on the pennaceous tip (water-resistant), transitioning to very soft and silky at the downy base.

Unique salmon-orange gradient and the large, fluffy downy base characteristic of water-dwelling birds.

Saline lagoons, mudflats, and shallow brackish coastal waters.

The Caribbean, northern South America, the Yucatan Peninsula, and the Galapagos Islands; occasionally seen in Florida.

Filter feeders that help maintain the balance of brine shrimp and algae populations in specialized hypersaline environments.

Roseate Spoonbill feathers (deeper pink/magenta, usually lack the same orange tint) and Caribbean Flamingo (often considered synonymous but may vary in intensity).

Flamingos are not born pink; they acquire their color from carotenoid pigments in the algae and crustaceans they eat. Without this diet, they turn white.

Excellent condition; the vanes are intact with no visible fault bars or parasite damage, suggesting a healthy molt.

Dallas zoo