Baby flamingo hatches at Florida zoo

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Florida zoo welcomed a new addition earlier this month.

On Friday, June 14, a Caribbean flamingo hatched at Zoo Miami after 28 days of incubating.

The Zoo Miami Foundation said the new hatchling came from one of several that are still artificially incubating.

The parents of the baby flamingo are a 21-year-old female and a 9-year-old male. The baby is feeding well and participating in daily walks and swimming sessions, the foundation said.

Once the chick has developed and is feeding on its own, Zoo Miami will introduce the chick to the flock.

The zoo said the Caribbean flamingo is one of the largest and brightest flamingo species that ranges from Mexico through the Caribbean and into South America, with a small population in the Galapagos Islands.

They feed on algae and aquatic invertebrates, which gives the bird their pink coloration, Zoo Miami said.