Flamingo Coloring Page

This flamingo coloring page shows a tall pink bird standing on one leg in a calm tropical lagoon. Its long neck curves up in an S, and its bent bill points toward the ground. Rows of long feathers cover the wing, and a smaller flamingo wades nearby. Palm trees stand on the far shore, and red and orange hibiscus flowers bloom along the bottom.

Kids from about 6 to 12 will get the most out of it. Plan on around 40 minutes. The wing asks for patience, while the neck, body and water fill in quickly.

A closer look at the bird

The wing is built in three layers. Short rounded feathers sit near the top. Under those is a row of longer ones, and the longest of all fall past the tail. Each feather has its own center line, so kids can treat them one at a time.

Look at the head next. The bill has a light base and a dark tip, and it bends sharply downward. The eye is big and kind, with a few lashes on top. The folded leg makes a neat triangle under the body, and a round knee sits right where it bends.

The chest has rows of small curved lines like fish scales. Those are there to show soft, short feathers, and they make a nice texture if you shade between them.

Flamingo coloring page color ideas

Go with three pinks if you have them. Use the palest on the top row of the wing, a medium pink for the middle row and a deep rose or red for the long feathers. The body can stay a soft pink between those.

Black or dark gray looks right on the tip of the bill. The light part of the bill could be cream or very pale pink.

For the background, keep the water pale so the bird stands out. A light blue lagoon and a green shore are easy choices. For a sunset, color the sky orange and yellow and let the water take on a little of that glow.

Tips for soft feathers

• Start each feather dark at the tip and lift your pencil as you move toward the base.
• Jump around the wing so your hand does not rub what you just finished.
• Leave a thin bright edge on some feathers. It keeps them from melting together.
• Color the long legs last with a sharp pencil, since they are narrow.

Flamingo facts

Here is the fact most kids love. A flamingo gets its pink color from its food! Tiny plants and animals in the water hold natural colors called carotenoids. Young birds hatch with grayish feathers, and their color changes as they grow and eat.

Their bills work in an odd way too. Flamingos use them upside down to strain mud and silt away from their food. They also live in big groups that can number in the thousands. There are six species in all, and a group of them is called a flamboyance, a word kids tend to enjoy saying.

Nobody knows for sure why they stand on one leg. It may help them save body heat, or it may take less energy to balance. Try it and see!

Games for after coloring

Hold a flamingo contest. Everyone stands on one leg, and the last one wobbling wins. Try it again with arms folded, and then, for the very brave ones in the room, with both eyes closed.

For a science link, talk about food and color. Ask kids what color they would turn if they ate only carrots, or only blueberries. Have them draw the result next to the flamingo.

Teachers can use this sheet for a short lesson on birds. Label the bill, wing, leg and tail on the board, and have students copy the words.

More tropical pages

The palm tree coloring page has the same island feeling with a hammock and a sunset. For another bright friend near the water, try the sea turtle page.

Questions