 Weather permitting, a flock of lesser and Chilean flamingos greet visitors as they enter the Zoo at ZooGate Commons. Chilean flamingos, native to South America from Peru to Tierra del Fuego, spend the warmer months on the shores of Waterfowl Lake.
What's remarkable about a flamingo? Plenty. These birds are pink, have exceptionally long necks and the longest legs, in proportion to body size, of all birds. The beak is uniquely shaped and adapted for pumping and filtering water while feeding on crustaceans and algae in marshes and lagoons. Both in water and on land, flamingos are able to lock their long legs into position for resting and sleeping on one leg.
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