The Economic Times

Between the 1940s and 1960s, biologists solved the mystery of why flamingos turn pink instead of staying gray

Flamingos hatch in a dull gray color, not pink. Their vibrant pink feathers develop from pigments found in their food. Algae and crustaceans contain beta-carotene, which the birds digest and deposit in their feathers. The amount of pigment ingested directly influences the intensity of their pink coloration. Therefore, a flamingo's diet dictates its distinctive and famous hue.