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Measurements
Height: 120 to 145cm
Weight: 2.2 to 2.8kg
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Diet
Filter feeders;
small crustaceans, mollusks, insects (such as midges and brine flies),
polychaete worms, fish (rarely) and algae. |
Identification
Tall, slender,
wading birds with webbed feet.
Neck and legs longer, relative to body size, than any other bird.
Overall plumage color is a deep pink to red/orange ; color may be
darkest on rump, head, and neck. Black primary and secondary feathers.
Beak with black tip, pink to red/orange middle, and pale yellow base
near the eye; upper bill often lighter in color. Legs pink with slightly
darker knees. |
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Behaviour
Highly social,
forming large colonies with tens or hundreds of thousands of individuals.
Large numbers provide security. Little competition for food -algae
and invertebrates tend to be concetrated and abundant.
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Distribution & Habitat
Saline lagoons,
muddy flats, shallow lakes of Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Yucatan,
northern South America and Galapagos. Prefers saline to fresh water. |
