Common Gull (2nd winter) - Goéland cendré

Description:

Can you stand on one leg and sing as well? Gulls are often seen standing one leg when resting. Birds with webbed feet have a system of veins and arteries in their legs and feet called “rete mirabile”, which transfers heat from the outgoing (hot) blood in the arteries to the incoming (cold) blood in the veins. The arteries that transport the warm blood from the heart into the legs lie in direct contact with the vein returning cold blood back to the heart. The warm blood in the arteries therefore warms the cooler vein blood. By standing on one leg, and tucking the other leg up against its body, a bird can reduce by up to half, the amount of heat lost through its legs.

Habitat:

The shores of a large Central European lake.

Notes:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rete_mirabi...