Flamingos usually stand on one leg with the other tucked beneath the body. The reason for this behaviour is not fully understood. They are known to be capable flyers.
Young flamingos hatch with grayish-red plumage, but adults range from light pink to bright red. A well-fed, healthy flamingo is more vibrantly colored, thus a more desirable mate; a white or pale flamingo, however, is usually unhealthy or malnourished. Captive flamingos are a notable exception; they may turn a pale pink if they are not fed carotene at levels comparable to the wild.