Have you ever wondered why birds often stand on one leg? Let's shed some light on this fascinating behavior. It turns out that birds adopt this posture for a couple of reasons. To start, by tucking one leg up into their down feathers, birds can conserve energy and minimize heat loss as their legs are the only part of their bodies not covered in feathers. This is especially crucial for birds living in colder climates (check and make sure they are not too cold from air conditioning) or water-dwelling species like ducks, egrets, and wading birds. Another reason for standing on one leg, this allows them to give the muscles in their other leg a much-needed rest.
It's normal for a bird to stand on one leg, however if you notice that a bird is not putting any weight on the foot for long periods of time or can see a visible injury, you should contact a qualified avian vet.
