How a flamingo balances on one leg

Some of the built-in tricks for extreme bird balancers work without muscle effort

flamingos

A LEG TO STAND ON  Scientists have tackled the question of how a biggish bird can balance, and apparently nap, on just one skinny leg.

Clint /iStockphoto

A question flamingo researchers get asked all the time — why the birds stand on one leg — may need rethinking.