IN FOCUS | Beak to beak
Flamingos are among the most recognisable species on the planet. But the vibrant colour and unmistakable form of the adults are not present in the youngsters. Here, the greywhite head of a Caribbean flamingo chick stands out amid its parent’s plumage.
At this early stage, chicks are fed bloodred crop milk, which is secreted and regurgitated by its parents. As the juvenile develops and its bill becomes curved, it will start to filter feed on the carotenoid-rich algae and crustaceans that give this bird its sunset hues.