American flamingo

Pretty in Pink: A Guide to Flamingo Feathers

Decked out in festive pink feathers, flamingos add a splash of color to sun-soaked beaches, turquoise lagoons, or even suburban lawns. In fact, their name originally meant flame-colored in Spanish and Portuguese. But these wading birds start out life as downy balls of gray and white, with no hint of incipient rosiness. So where exactly …

American crocodile

The Curious Crocodile Convalescence

The mere idea of crocodiles makes people shiver, bringing up images of diabolical, man-eating beasts. One of our most fearsome yet fascinating animals, watching videos of crocodiles lunging and tossing wildebeest around like dolls is spine-chilling. Nonetheless, crocodiles are still subject to the whims of the most horrifying predator yet: humans. The American crocodile was …