News Animals

Flamingos dye their sun-faded feathers to stay pretty in pink

The DIY routine may help attract mates. Once the chicks are born, this preening stops

A flock of greater flamingos standing in water

Greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) use DIY dye to fight sun bleaching of their precious neck feathers. A touch of rouge is key for snagging a mate.

Raffi Maghdessian/getty images plus

By Rebecca Dzombak

Greater flamingos apparently aren’t fans of a sun-faded look for their neck feathers.

Scientists have known that the leggy birds touch up their color by smearing their necks with a serum they produce glands near their tails.