Maintaining their beautiful fiery colour is a
difficult business, and it turns out that flamingos use cosmetic enhancements.
Researchers have long known that they get pinky-orangey colour
from carotenoid pigments in the crustaceans and algae on which they feed. Put
flamingos on a carotenoid-free meal plan, and their feathers will stay white.
However,
researchers have found in studying the greater Flamingo, that males and females alike brighten the underlying tint of
their feathers through regular applications of what the scientists call MAKE-UP! Diblets of carotenoid pigments secreted by the preening gland at the
flamingo’s rear end............
From now on, I intend to make sure I don’t own
any lipstick shades called Flamingo. Just in case.........
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