Scientists believe they have found how flamingos stand one leg. We all love the image these beautiful birds standing water just one leg. The reason why the birds do this has puzzled scientists decades. Researchers in Atlanta, USA, say they have uncovered this secret the natural world. Professor Young-Hui Chang says a flamingo can stand just one leg for many hours because its skeleton. The flamingo's hips and leg bones are a special shape and position that give the bird amazing balance. Professor Chang said the flamingo's basic anatomy (bone structure) means it can stand one leg ease. Flamingos do not have to use their muscles a lot to do this.
Another researcher, Lena Ting, said the flamingo is very unique because it can stand still a long time one leg. He said it would be very difficult a human to stay still moving, even an hour. He said: "Most us aren't aware that we're moving all the time." He added that even when we stand still, we actually move and use a lot energy. The muscles our body constantly change to keep us straight and stop us falling over. The position the bones a flamingo means the birds do not need to use so many muscles to keep still. This means they save energy. The researchers say that saving energy could also be the reason other birds stand and sleep one leg.
