Elegance amid extremes

Flamingos are a paradox of sorts. They are beautifully plumed from white to light and deep pink to crimson, and they have black flight feathers. They are graceful in flight and while walking, and they can form huge flocks of a million or more that are a sight to behold. As individuals, however, they are odd looking. Their legs and necks seem proportionally too long, and their large bills have a weird shape. Unlike with all other birds, the lower mandible is larger than