A Little Less Demure - series of paintings by Genevieve May. Why are Flamingos pink? They are an example of "We are what we eat!" The birds diet consists of shrimp and algae which consist of carotenoids. This is what makes them vibrantly pink. The flamingo mother will feed her young crop milk, a red substance that resembles blood. This is what makes the babies plumage pink. During this process the mother bird will lose her pigmentation. She will turn a light pink color, even