Pinkest Flamingos Most Aggressive in Squabbling for Food

A new study from the University of Exeter has found that the pinkest flamingos are the most aggressive in fighting to get food. The research also suggests that bright pink plumage is an indicator of good health in lesser flamingos.

The study's lead author, Dr. Paul Rose, a zoologist from the University of Exeter, said: "Flamingos live in large groups with complex social structures. Color plays an important role in this. The color comes from carotenoids in their food, which for lesser flamingos is mostly algae that they filter from the water."

"A healthy flamingo that is an efficient feeder - demonstrated by its colorful feathers - will have more time and energy to be aggressive and dominant when feeding," he added.

Three Types of Feeding Arrangements

Dr. Paul and his team looked at the feeding arrangements of the lesser flamingo species at the WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre in Gloucestershire. They studied how these birds behave in an indoor feeding bowl, a larger indoor feeding pool, and a spacious outdoor feeding pool, The Guardian reports.

The researchers observed that flamingos pushed each other around while they are trying to get to the food. The brighter-colored flamingos appear to be more aggressive than their paler counterparts.

However, the flamingos spent less than half as much time displaying aggression when it came to feeding in the outdoor pool. Additionally, the researchers said that both female and male birds had shown no difference in rates of feeding or aggression.

The team suggested in their findings that were published in the journal Ethology that birds should be fed over a wide space where possible to avoid aggression.

According to Rose, when flamingos have to crowd together to get their food, they squabble more, resulting in less feeding time for the birds. Although an outdoor setting is ideal for them, it is not always possible to feed these birds outdoors, since lesser flamingos that are native to Africa only weigh about 2 kilograms, making locations such as the United Kingdom too cold for the birds when they went out in the winter.

"However, this study shows they should be fed over as wide an area as possible. Where possible, creating spacious outdoor feeding areas can encourage natural foraging patterns and reduce excess aggression," says Rose.

The Role of the Flamingo's Pink Feathers

The team did not only found the feeding pattern of the birds. They also discovered that the lesser flamingos display a "flush of color" once they are ready to breed. They only regain their paler hues after they become parents.

Using the data gathered by Dr. Paul and his team, he had suggested some small improvements in bird welfare at WWT Slimbridge. This includes providing more outdoor space to the flamingos to give them a more peaceful environment, which resulted in the flamingos to be pinker and more relaxed.

Meanwhile, the previous research of Dr. Paul's team also suggests that despite being a part of a large flock, these birds tend to form long-lasting friendships and tend to spend time with close friends.