Glimpse a far - off flock of flamingos , and you ’ll instantly mark their color — pinko , causedby the carotenoids in their dieting . Move in for a confining flavor , and you ’ll believably pick up on another classical flamingo machine characteristic : They often stand on one wooden leg .
This leaning has proven a slight tougher to explain than thebirds’bright feathers . AsNew Scientistreports , some scientists trust that insert one leg up helps flamingo conserve trunk high temperature . In one 2009study , investigator regain that Caribbean flamingos more often stood one on leg in H2O than on body politic ; and a 2010studysuggested that the unipedal position was more vulgar in colder temperatures . According tothe receiving set showBirdNote , herons , duck , and a variety of other birds also string up out on one leg to belittle estrus red through endanger limb .
But that ’s not the only theory behind flamingos ’ balance act . Other expert think it ’s a fashion to save Energy Department , not oestrus . “ trust it or not , flamingos are more static for long period of fourth dimension on one leg than they are on two , ” University of Exeter animal scientist Paul RosetoldBBC Science Focus . “ This is because the ligaments and tendons in their legs can be locked in position — and that reduces any muscular campaign to stay in one piazza . ”
In a 2017study , researchers found that flamingo cadaver could fend unsupported on one leg , but not two , suggest that live flamingo want to activate more muscles ( and therefore use more energy ) to balance on two leg . They also found that springy flamingos stick out on one ramification while rest sway very niggling , which seems to support the theme that they can defend a unipedal stance without much crusade to keep them steady .
In short , we do n’t really have a classic answer as to why flamingos stomach on one wooden leg . It could be to stay ardent , to relax , or to do both . It ’s also potential that scientist have n’t yet landed on the right theory . While you ’re waiting for the next break in the eccentric , you’re able to learn more about flamingoshere .
[ h / tBBC Science Focus ]
