Photo by CarrieMCooper/Shutterstock.com

Some animals go somewhere nice and warm when the winter months come, conserving their energy and waiting until the shining sun offers enough warmth to make leaving bed worth it. So, do flamingos hibernate?

Do Flamingos Hibernate?

No, flamingos do not hibernate.

Hibernation is not something birds generally do. It’s more of a thing among mammals, particularly small mammals, insects, amphibians, and reptiles. The most notorious members of hibernation nation are bears, and other than a love for finding food in water, there isn’t a ton that flamingos and bears have in common.

What Do Flamingos Do During the Winter?

Birds are more known for escaping winter through other means: migration. Rather than confront their problems, birds run away from them, never having to face the reality of winter because they have wings (lucky them).

Flamingos don’t generally migrate, though. They mostly live in areas that are warm and tropical, so there isn’t much need for it - January isn’t too tough on the Yucatan. But not all flamingos hang out on nice, sandy beaches.

Some flamingos live in the high altitudes of the Andes. When winter comes, the bodies of water that those flamingos rely on for food can freeze, leaving the birds with no choice but to find refuge elsewhere. There are other reasons why flamingos would migrate. Changing water levels, thanks to climate change and otherwise, predators, and humans round out some of the other causes for packing up and moving out.

But in general, flamingos are non-migratory birds. They don’t have an annualized trip to warmer temperatures planned for each winter. But they do migrate sometimes, when circumstances call for it. A flamboyance of flamingos is not a stationary body.

Should I Hibernate During the Winter?

It’s 16 degrees outside, there’s six inches of frozen water piled up everywhere, and the wind is howling with a vengeance. But you have things to do, people to see, and places to be. Hibernation sounds great, but for most of humanity, taking four months off to put our feet up isn’t an option.

If you do have to brave the elements this winter - and most of us will have to at some point - The Popular Flamingo has you covered. To trap heat to your head, there’s the Flamingo Love Beanie. To ensure your extremities avoid the worst of winter’s beatings, we have our Classic Flamingo Gloves. To navigate the treacherous terrain of snow and slush, The Popular Flamingo offers a wide variety of boots that are equal parts unique and effective.

If you live in a place where winter doesn’t seriously strike, then you can consider yourself lucky. Enjoy your sunlight, unfrozen roads, and t-shirt weather while the rest of us suffer up here. Just know that when it’s June and outside is a sauna turned to high heat, we’ll be the ones laughing from our more comfortable climate.