Flamingo's don't have knees where you think

That awkward looking way flamingo's stand actually has a pretty good purpose. Despite what it looks like, the legs of a flamingo do not actually bend backwards. This is because what looks like the flamingo's knee is actually its ankle! Their knees are actually hidden under the wings. Flamingos often stand on one leg and tuck the other one into their plumage to preserve their body heat and keep themselves warm. They alternate legs in order to regulate their body temperature and probably confuse the other animals and people watching them (we can only assume thats the reason).