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 …