American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)

American flamingos are large birds that inhabit shallow waters at the coasts of South America, Florida, and Atlantic islands like Jamaica and the Bahamas. Their long, skinny legs keep their bodies above the water level as they patrol their aquatic habitats. A specialized bill with hair-like structures on the inside allows them to easily filter water for their favorite foods - tiny aquatic invertebrates and algae. They migrate to new feeding grounds in large flocks when food supplies get low or when water levels rise too high. Populations of American flamingos also group together in large mating colonies where they build cylindrical nests out of mud. They are known to stand on one leg. It is not entirely known why, but it is thought that this stance helps American flamingos regulate body heat when they are cold.