<![CDATA[ ]]>
<![CDATA[-You asked us, why do flamingos stand on one leg?]]>
<![CDATA[Although they're not the only birds]]>
<![CDATA[to balance precariously on a single limb,]]>
<![CDATA[flamingos are probably the best known for this yoga-like pose.]]>
<![CDATA[Researchers have been scratching their heads]]>
<![CDATA[trying to figure out the reason behind this solo'd stance,]]>
<![CDATA[and now they think they have an answer.]]>
<![CDATA[-Thermoregulation. ]]>
<![CDATA[-What they found is that flamingos]]>
<![CDATA[tend to do a lot more one-legged lounging when they're standing]]>
<![CDATA[in water and when the temperature's]]>
<![CDATA[on the colder side, which makes sense]]>
<![CDATA[if the birds are trying to maintain their body]]>
<![CDATA[temperature. ]]>
<![CDATA[You see a long naked leg exposes lots of skin]]>
<![CDATA[to cool temps in water, which sucks away heat faster]]>
<![CDATA[than air. ]]>
<![CDATA[But if flamingos tuck that same leg up]]>
<![CDATA[into their down parka of a body, it stays toasty warm.]]>
<![CDATA[It's likely the behavior also reduces the bird's exposure]]>
<![CDATA[to things like fungus and parasites in the water.]]>
<![CDATA[Nice. ]]>
<![CDATA[I mean namaste. ]]>
<![CDATA[For more stories like this, check us]]>
<![CDATA[out every day at Smithsonian.com.]]>
<![CDATA[ ]]>