Which description best matches the feeding behavior of flamingos?

Which description best matches the feeding behavior of flamingos?

• A. They wade in shallow water, stirring mud with their feet and filtering food with their heads
• B. They nest on cliffs far from water
• C. They feed by diving deep for fish
• D. They only eat seeds from dry flats

Answer: (A)

Flamingos feed by filter feeding in very shallow water. They stand or wade in the water and use their feet to stir up the mud, bringing up tiny organisms hidden in the sediment. Then they dip or submerge their heads and filter the water through their beaks, which have comb-like structures that trap food while letting water and waste exit. This combination—wading in shallow water, actively stirring the bottom with the feet, and filtering food with the beak—is exactly what that description conveys.

The other scenarios don’t fit how flamingos actually eat: nesting on cliffs far from water describes a location behavior rather than feeding; diving deep for fish describes a different foraging style used by other birds; and eating seeds from dry flats suggests a diet that doesn’t rely on the aquatic foods flamingos filter from the water.