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Shrimp, mollusks and algae don't seem to spend much time looking out for hungry birds. This theory would make more sense if the flamingo's prey were a bit more sight-driven, though.
![flamingo legs flamingo legs](https://live.staticflickr.com/5013/5545459840_6864b6dc30_b.jpg)
A flamingo on one leg could resemble a tree with a thin trunk leading to a much bigger top - especially when seen from in the water, which is where a flamingo's prey lives. A lagoon has lots of long, thin objects in it, including reeds and small trees. There are many scientists who think flamingos keep just one leg in the water in order to better camouflage themselves. The leg controlled by the side of the brain that's awake stays on the ground to maintain balance while the other leg and foot get to rest up for a while.Īnother common theory relates equally to both warm and cool climates. If flamingos, too, keep half their brain awake while they sleep, that could explain why they sleep on one leg. Ducks have also been known to stand on one leg for long periods of time (along with herons, storks and geese). Many animals, including dolphins and ducks, only turn off one side of their brain at a time when they sleep. Some experts think the one-leg balancing act might have to do with a flamingo's brain. Since flamingos alternate which foot they've got in the water, this theory does seem possible, but it's not terribly popular. This is where one of the theories comes from: Maybe flamingos stand on one leg to dry their other foot off. Well, wading birds have the same problem. If you stood in the water all day, what would happen to your skin? You'd look like a prune, most likely. James Randklev/Photographer's Choice/ Getty Images So why do flamingos do it? On the next page, we'll look into some of the most common theories. It seems like sleeping would require both legs on the ground for balance - since the animal is unconscious. They stand on both legs to eat, but on one leg to sleep. What's left is the flamingo's food, usually algae and small crustaceans. The water and mud flow through, getting pumped out the sides of the beak. The top and bottom of the beak have bristles that intertwine when they meet, forming a comblike filtering mechanism. Or sort of fishing: Flamingos stick their heads in the water upside down and suck mud and water in through the front of their beak. Imagine hundreds of birds with their heads under water, fishing. They're very social, sleeping, preening their feathers and eating together. Flamingos are always in groups, anywhere from a few birds to a few hundred or even thousands, and they live on every continent except Australia and Antarctica.
#Flamingo legs full
The color comes from the food they eat, including shrimp, which is full of carotenoid pigments (the same thing that makes carrots orange). It's startling to see a large group of pink, red or vermillion birds standing in a shallow pond. They're practically a city logo in Miami. Combine their height with their coloring, and flamingos are one of the most recognizable birds in the world.
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They range from 32 to 51 inches tall (81 to 130 cm), but they don't weigh much - just about 5 to 8 pounds (2 to 3.6 kg). Most large wading birds have the ability to stand on one leg, and flamingos are one of the biggest wading birds out there. But most of us have trouble standing one leg for 10 seconds, let alone four hours like flamingos do. It really should be easier for humans to stand on one leg than for flamingos. Humans are oriented vertically, with almost all of their weight in line with the center of gravity. It's an impressive ability, considering flamingos' legs are longer than their bodies, and most of their weight is oriented horizontally. But there are lots of theories on the subject. It's a puzzle to science why, exactly, flamingos stand on one leg so regularly.