Showstopper #2

by Marcy Wielfaert

Title

Showstopper #2

Artist

Marcy Wielfaert

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

Flamingos (or flamingoes) are a type of wading bird in the family Phoenicopteridae. Four flamingo species are distributed throughout the Americas, including the Caribbean, and two species are native to Africa, Asia, and Europe. Flamingos usually stand on one leg, with the other being tucked beneath the body. The reason for this behavior is not fully understood, but one theory is that standing on one leg allows the birds to conserve more body heat, given that they spend a significant amount of time wading in cold water. However, the behavior also takes place in warm water and is observed as well in birds that do not typically stand in water. An alternative theory is that standing on one leg reduces the energy expenditure for producing muscular effort to stand and balance on one leg. A study on cadavers showed that the one-legged pose could be held without any muscle activity, while living flamingos demonstrate substantially less body sway in a one-legged posture. Flamingos do more than just stand, however, and may stomp their webbed feet in the mud to stir up food from the bottom. A well-fed, healthy flamingo is more vibrantly colored, thus a more desirable mate. Conversely, a white or pale flamingo is usually unhealthy or malnourished. The greater flamingo is the tallest of the six different species of flamingos, standing at 3.9 to 4.7 feet with a weight up to 7.7 pounds. The flamingo in this image is an American flamingo and is obviously well nourished! I captured this beauty at the Bronx Zoo in New York.

Uploaded

April 8th, 2021

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