First, it’s not a flamingo. Close, but no. The lowcountry of South Carolina is as far north as these birds will go. They are a true tropical bird from Central and South America for the most part, and some in the gulf states.

They will leave here when it gets near freezing at night, which is maybe January for a week or so. Warm weather brings them right back.

It feeds on crustaceans, aquatic insects, frogs, newts and very small fish ignored by larger waders. Their bill allows them to sift through the soft mud.

Like the American flamingo, their pink color is diet-derived, small shrimp will keep the birds a deeper pink.