09/09/2026
WILDLIFE WEDNESDAY
"Balance No. 2" - Burrowing Owl from City of Goodyear, AZ USA.
Captured on Labor Day morning.
Burrowing owls often stand on one leg for the same basic reasons many birds do: to conserve heat and rest.
🦉 Heat conservation: Tucking one leg up against the warm body reduces the amount of exposed skin and helps prevent heat loss. This can be particularly useful during cool desert mornings and evenings.
Resting the legs: Birds can alternate legs, allowing one leg to rest while the other supports the body.
Energy efficient: Their anatomy allows them to balance quite comfortably on one leg, even while sleeping or remaining alert.
It's normal behavior: You may see a burrowing owl switch legs periodically, sometimes standing on one leg for surprisingly long periods..
Sony Alpha A7R3, Sigma 100-400mm f5-6.3 DG DN OS
1/250 sec at f/7.1 ISO 800, 400 mm
09/07/2026 @ 6:49 AM
