09/03/2026
Don’t be fooled by the pink!!! 🙅
These two are actually two entirely different species of birds that are often confused due to their similar bright pinkish coloration. They both happen to draw pigment from the crustaceans they eat, but other than that, they are pretty distinct. Our scarlet ibises are sometimes mistaken as “baby flamingos”, though (as we know) flamingo chicks are grayish and take some time to develop their pink hues. 💞
Scarlet ibises are more closely related to herons and spoonbills than flamingos, which you can see in their long, slender beaks. They use their bills to probe mud for insects and crustaceans, while flamingos use their angular, stubbier beaks to filter-feed upside down in the water. Not to mention, flamingos are also 2 times taller and 4 times heavier!
But, like our flamingos, the scarlet ibises have their own flock. The three of them can sometimes be seen preening and splashing around in the Wildlife Circle, but more often than not, they’re perched on their nests atop the trees! 🌳
