Recent research has shown why flamingos stand on one leg: thermoregulation. Animals. pigeons and ducks and some songbirds do it the same way.When standing on one leg birds may either rest, sleep or preen their plumage. Scientists aren't 100% sure why Flamingos stand on one leg, but they have some theories. The question is asked by zoo visitors and biologists alike, but while numerous theories abound, no-one has yet provided a definitive explanation. Many birds stand on one leg when resting on the ground (Clark 1973, Stiefel 1979; Necker 2010; see Liste).This behavior can best be observed in long-legged birds like storks, flamingos and herons but species with short legs, e.g. Why do they stand on one leg? Have you ever wondered why flamingos, Canada geese, and other birds stand on one leg? Find out why flamingos stand on one leg and what anatomical features allow them to do it. A truly stunning place to visit. Matt Anderson from St Joseph’s University, who studies flamingos, praises the study, but he notes that explaining how the birds stand on one leg doesn’t tell us why they do. While the how doesn’t necessarily explain why flamingos sleep on one leg… There are a few reasons why birds keep their legs tucked in close to their body and none of them have to do with meditating. Portrait crop, View On Black Flamingos in Laguna Hedionda in Bolivia. In the cold weather they can keep one leg next to their body helping it to stay warm. The cadavers couldn’t stand on two legs. You can observe these flamingos for hours with no other human there to disturb the incredible si The brilliant pink flamingo is often seen standing on one leg. Why do flamingos stand on one leg? One says that it's to keep one leg warm. Another idea is that they are drying out one leg at a time. A flock of flamingos is called a stand, colony, regiment, or flamboyance. Flamingos: A Leg to Stand On - Flamingos stand on one leg while they rest. Flamingos have balance aids built into their bodies, the new study finds. But why flamingos ever bother standing on two may be the bigger puzzle, new research suggests. Well, if you thought it was some sort of bird yoga, we have some bad news for you – it's not. Flamingo researchers get asked this question all the time. It is one of the simplest, but most enigmatic mysteries of nature: just why do flamingoes like to stand on one leg? That lets them stand on one leg with little muscle effort. Flamingos have a wild lifespan of 20-30 years, but in captivity have been recorded as living up to 50 years or longer. These terms can apply to a flamingo flock of any size, but do not apply to just a pair of flamingos or one bird by itself.