are you my Mother?

Eudocimis ruber

Scarlet ibis are natives to tropical South America. The Great Plains Zoo's aviary has flamingos and these ibis who are comfortable enough in the habitat to nest and raise young. There were 2 ibis nests in a small tree next to the water, ibis are among the colonial nesters. This little guy was fairly well grown when I saw him. His scarlet parent is pretty spectacular compared to his homely black self, another case of the caterpillar turning into a butterfly, however.
Scarlet ibis start out brown-black like this young one and gradually acquire their red plumage, becoming redder and redder as they age. Pigments come from the crustaceans they eat, similar to flamingos.