Because they're standing in a freakin swamp, and it is only half as icky if they only have one foot down in it. 
Why do flamingoes stand on one leg?
- Thread starter stratego
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Pirate
Emperor
That might be the reason. Have you ever had seaweed brush your ankles and all that muck squishing up between your toes?IglooDude said:Because they're standing in a freakin swamp, and it is only half as icky if they only have one foot down in it.
However they eat out of the swamp, so they may not find it so icky. Maybe it's because they're standing in their food? If you were standing in a big bowl of pasta, you'd probably try to minimize the contact between your dinner and your big stinky feet.
Pasi Nurminen
Deity
All sorts of birds stand on one leg, not just flamingoes.
Pasi Nurminen said:
Indeed, I saw a goose standing on one leg the other day, leading me to believe the "preserve body heat" theory since it was about 10degF out, although if I was a flamingo I wouldn't want to put both feet down in a swamp no matter what the temperature.
