As we were preparing to witness the sunset over the Wonderopolis waterfront, we happened to overhear an intriguing conversation between a sea gull and a flamingo:
Sea Gull: Hello! I’m called Babs. What’s your name?
Flamingo: Nice to meet you, Babs. I’m Frank. I don’t think I’ve seen you here before.
Sea Gull: I’m new to the area. If you don’t mind me asking, there’s something I’ve always been curious about when it comes to flamingos.
Flamingo: Oh really? What’s that? Why are we pink?
Sea Gull: No, I know you’re pink due to your diet. I’ve always wondered why you balance on one leg while you sleep.
Flamingo: Ha! That’s a funny story. One flamingo did it once and it scared the humans. He shared a video on FlamingoBook and it went viral. Now all the flamingos do it just to confuse the humans!
We firmly believe that Frank was just joking with Babs, but their conversation did make us wonder about the exact reason — and how — flamingos balance on one leg while sleeping.
Balancing on one leg is not natural — or easy — for humans to do for an extended period of time. Yet, flamingos seem to do it effortlessly for long stretches with minimal or no effort.
Scientists who have studied flamingos have observed this behavior for a long time. Over the years, they have come up with several theories about how and why flamingos balance on one leg during sleep.
Some believe that flamingos balance on one leg to dry it off occasionally, as they spend a lot of time in the water. Others think they do it because they only shut down one side of their brains when they sleep.
More popular theories focus on the potential benefits of balancing on one leg. For instance, some scientists suggest that balancing on one leg conserves energy and reduces strain on the heart, as the heart only needs to pump blood down one leg.
Others believe it helps flamingos regulate their body temperature. Standing in cold water all day can make it challenging to maintain the ideal body temperature. Balancing on one leg reduces the amount of heat lost to the water, thus aiding in temperature control.
Another prevailing theory suggests that balancing on one leg could serve as a form of camouflage. From the perspective of fish swimming below the water, a flamingo standing on one leg might resemble a reed or a small tree.
For years, scientists have only had these theories to work with. However, recently, scientists studying flamingos may have made a breakthrough in understanding this peculiar behavior.
Professor Young-Hui Chang from the Georgia Institute of Technology and Lena Ting from Emory University examined the bodies of deceased flamingos to gain more insight into their anatomy. In the process, they discovered that it requires less effort for a flamingo to balance on one leg than on two.
When observing a long flamingo leg, what you’re actually seeing is the calf, ankle, and foot. The knee of a flamingo is concealed under its feathers, where you would expect to find its hip. The ankle is located where you would typically find the knee, and it performs a unique action. The ankle joint of a flamingo snaps shut, securing the connection between the foot and leg.
Researchers were able to balance a deceased flamingo on one leg while studying its body. This was possible because the joints of the flamingo naturally aligned in such a way that one leg was positioned beneath the center of its body. Based on this observation, researchers concluded that standing on one leg does not require any muscle activity for live flamingos.
Therefore, unlike humans who struggle to stand on one leg and can only do so for a short period of time with significant muscle strain, flamingos can effortlessly stand on one leg without any muscle activity. Isn’t it fascinating how nature works? Who would have thought that standing on one leg could be easier than standing on two?
Give It a Try
Are you intrigued by flamingos? Discover more about these fascinating creatures by engaging in the following activities with a friend or family member:
- We know you’ve been wanting to try this ever since you started reading today’s Wonder! So go ahead and stand on one leg! Extending your arms can help you maintain balance. Ask a friend or family member to time how long you can stay balanced on one leg. Which muscles feel fatigued from your efforts to maintain balance?
- Use your imagination to envision what it would be like to be a flamingo. Write a short story from the perspective of a flamingo, explaining why you sleep while standing on one leg. Do you do it to regulate body temperature? Is it simply more comfortable? Or maybe it’s to mystify scientists around the world? Have fun creating a story from the point of view of a flamingo!
- If you’re captivated by flamingos, you’re not alone. These beautiful birds have fascinated both children and adults for generations. One of their most intriguing characteristics is their unique coloration. Do you know why they appear the way they do? If not, take a journey back in time to the very first Wonder ever published: Wonder of the Day #1: Why Are Flamingos Pink? Be sure to share what you learn with a friend or family member!
Sources of Wonder
- http://www.livescience.com/59238-how-flamingos-stand-on-one-leg.html
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/05/24/scientists-have-worked-flamingos-stand-one-leg/
- http://www.audubon.org/news/how-flamingos-stand-one-leg-without-falling-over
- http://animals.howstuffworks.com/birds/flamingos-stand-on-one-leg1.htm
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