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Just What Are Flamingos?

Just What Are Flamingos?

The pink color comes from their food.

BirdNote Daily

November 23, 20241m 40s

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Show Notes

Few birds are as distinctive as flamingos. Scientists once grouped flamingos with storks and ibises. But a study of flamingo DNA delivered a stunning surprise: their closest living relatives appear to be grebes. And an even bigger surprise: DNA indicates that flamingos and grebes share an ancestry with certain land birds, like doves. So flamingos evolved long legs and necks, just as herons and storks did. But they belong on a completely different branch of the tree of life.

More info and transcript at BirdNote.org

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Topics

birdingsciencebirds