Flamingos are born with gray feathers and turn pink because of the food they eat.

The pink color comes from chemicals called alpha and beta-carotenoids. These are the same pigments that make carrots orange and tomatoes red. Brine shrimp do not make these pigments themselves. They get them by eating tiny algae.When a flamingo eats shrimp or algae, its liver breaks down the pigments. The bird's body then moves these color molecules into its growing feathers. If a flamingo stops eating these specific foods, its new feathers will grow in white or pale gray. This happens sometimes in zoos if the birds do not get the right nutrients.A bright pink color shows that a flamingo is healthy and good at finding food. Healthier birds are more likely to find mates during the breeding season. Dr. Paul Rose from the University of Exeter found that color can also affect a bird's social rank. It takes about three years for a young flamingo to get its full pink color.