Flamingo Cuddlekins Cuddly Toy

Product Description

Measures 30cm Plush fake fur Stuffed toy Suitable for ages 3 years & up What a pretty bird! With tons of fluffy pink plummage-effect fur & long dangly legs, complete with little claws just like the real thing, we're sure this gorgeous, plump bodied pink Flamingo will be a firm favourite with little girls. As seen on Channel 5's ' The Gadget Show'! Physical Characteristics Flamingos are likely to be the only tall, pink bird in any given locale. They also have long, lean, curved necks & black-tipped bills with a distinctive downward bend. Habitat The greater flamingo has the most widespread distribution of all flamingo species. Populations are found in tropical & subtropical areas in northwest India, the Middle East, the western Mediterranean, & Africa. Limited numbers of this species can be found over much of northern Europe & eastward to Siberia. Behaviour Flamingos often stand on one leg. The reason for this behavior is not fully known. A leg is tucked beneath the body, because the flamingo like some other animals has the ability to have half of its body go into a state of sleep, & when one side is rested, the flamingo will swap leg & then let the other half sleep, but this has not been proven. It is often suggested that this is done in part to keep the legs from getting wet, in addition to conserving energy. As well as standing in the water, flamingos may stamp their webbed feet in the mud to stir up food from the bottom. Greater flamingos live & feed in groups called flocks or colonies. They find safety in numbers, which helps to protect individual birds from predators while their heads are down in the mud. Breeding Greater flamingos also breed while gathered in groups. Once mating is complete, a pair takes turns incubating their single egg. Young flamingos are born gray & white & do not turn pink for two years. In years when wetlands & pools are dry & food scarce, flamingoes may not breed. Diet Their bent bills allow them to feed on small organisms-plankton, tiny fish, fly larvae, & the like. In muddy flats or shallow water, they use their long legs & webbed feet to stir up the bottom. They then bury their bills, or even their entire heads, & suck up both mud & water to access the tasty morsels within. A flamingo's beak has a filter-like structure to remove food from the water before the liquid is expelled. Strange & Interesting Facts Shrimplike crustaceans are responsible for the flamingo's distinctive pink color. The birds pale in captivity unless their diet is supplemented.