Flamingos probably adopt this pose to stay warm. It must also be a very comfortable position. Flamingos live in many parts of the world, ranging from the Great Rift Valley in Africa to the highland lakes of the Andes in South America.
Flamingos are waders, birds that collect their food from shallow water.
Their long thin legs and webbed toes are bare of feathers, which makes wading easy. But no feathers means less protection for the blood circulating in the legs. The solution is to conserve heat by drawing a leg close up to the bird's warm body. A locking mechanism prevents the leg from buckling. All birds are warm-blooded, like mammals, and maintain an even body temperature, regardless of the outside temperature.