Black Flamingo: Rare Bird Discovered In Cyprus Wetland

A black flamingo was spotted in the saltwater wetlands of Cyprus. Although the unusually colored birds are not unheard of, conservationists confirmed they are incredibly rare.

There are six known species of flamingo. However, a vast majority of the birds are tinted either orange or pink. As explained by Web Exhibits, the pigment in the birds’ feathers and legs are affected by their diet.

A flamingo’s diet primarily consists of algae, cyanobacteria, insects, invertebrates, and small fish — which are rich in carotenoid pigments.

Following consumption, the pigments are broken down in fat cells and absorbed by feathers as they form and grow. The amount of carotenoid pigments in a flamingo’s diet will affect the brilliance of their color.

Captive flamingos, for example, are often quite pale. Therefore, zoos often supplement the birds’ diet with “a commercially prepared diet high in carotenoids” to enhance their colors.

Although the depth of the birds’ coloring is affected by diet, their colors do not deviate from shades of orange and pink. Scientists believe black flamingos are the result of melanism.

Rare black flamingo spotted in Cyprus http://t.co/zkcW4oZ4FF pic.twitter.com/0hAAwgoOpF

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) April 9, 2015

As discussed by Lair Web, melanistic animals have excess amounts of melanin, which is responsible for dark skin pigmentation. Essentially, melanism is the opposite of albinism, which is the lack of pigmentation in the skin.

The black flamingo discovered on Cyprus has a white beak, white legs, and a small tuft of white feathers on its tail. Otherwise, the unique bird is completely black.

Rare black Flamingo in Cyprus. What a beauty. pic.twitter.com/k1JkJFqiF7

— Lori (@patriotsgirl27) April 10, 2015

Environmentalist Pantelis Charilaou, with the British Sovereign Bases environmental department, said a similar bird was seen in 2014 in Israel. It is unclear whether the black flamingo in Cyprus was the same bird spotted in Israel. However, scientists said it is possible.

As reported by Yahoo! News, BirdLife Cyprus conservationist Martin Hellicar explained that flamingos usually stay further south during the winter. During their spring migration to Turkey, the birds often stop on Cyprus to dine on shrimp. Each year, an estimated 20,000 flamingos descend on the Mediterranean island.

The black flamingo was spotted on Thursday among a flock of traditionally colored birds near Limassol.

[Image via Shutterstock]