The Intricate Mating Dance Of The Flamingo

Thanks to its distinctive feathers, the flamingo is one of the most recognisable birds in the world. Flamingo feathers range from bright red to light pink which lends a certain sense of flamboyance to the species in general. However did you know the mating habits of these birds are just as flashy as their looks? In fact the mating ritual of the flamingo is almost as elaborate as the human mating ritual, well not quite, but you get the picture.

Where flamingos live

There are six species of flamingo in the wild today, four can be found in South America whilst the other two live in India, the Middle East and Africa. Flamingos don’t have a designated season for mating and instead tend to breed when food availability and water levels in the wetlands are just right according to Dr. Juan Amat an ornithologist. Flamingos are a very sociable species living in huge colonies that number thousands of birds. However when the conditions are right for mating, the entire colony does not commence with courtship rituals simultaneously. Instead Dr. Amat says the flamingos tend to display in groups which number anywhere between ten to hundreds of individuals.

Mating involves an elaborate dance

In order to attract a mate, both females and males engage in elaborate group dances which are made up of a number of different moves. The mating display typically starts off with the “head flag” where the flamingo makes a series of loud calls and waves its head back and forth. The next move is called the “wing salute” and the dancers stretch out their necks and display their back flight feathers by spreading their wings. This is then followed by the “inverted wing salute” where the flamingo angles its tail upwards and its head downwards which enables their black flight feathers to point upwards.

Nobody knows how flamingos choose their mates

It is not obvious whether the dance performance even matters because nobody really knows how flamingos choose their mates. Dr. Amat says the choice of mate has so far not been studied in detail, though he thinks that the colour of plumage is probably an important factor in choice of mate. In fact a recent study undertaken by Dr Amat and his colleagues found that in order to attract mates during breeding time, flamingos actually apply make-up.

Flamingos apply make up

The vibrant colour of the flamingo feather comes from carotenoids which are a type of pigmented compound that are obtained from small invertebrates and algae that flamingos like to eat. And just like other species of birds, the flamingo’s tail has glands that produce an oily substance rich in these carotenoids which they spread onto their wings. During mating season flamingos ramp up the application of this oil and as soon as the chicks have hatched the birds stop applying their make-up and their wings quickly lose their bright colours.

Monogamous during breeding season

During the breeding season, flamingos tend to be monogamous with mating pairs remaining with one another helping to build nests and incubate eggs. However most adult flamingos tend to look for new mates every year. Despite the fact that flamingos don’t mate for life, which is the case for most species on the planet,  it is unusual for both the male and female of the species to be involved in making sure the eggs are incubated. There is still a lot we don'[t know about the flamingo and hopefully with further study scientists may be able to reveal more of  this amazing species mysteries.