Budgies Stand On One Leg, WHY?

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A budgie standing on one leg might give you the idea that it feels discomfort in its other leg. It might even scare you that it will lose balance and fall. But, in most cases, it is quite the opposite. In fact, it is one of their common behaviors. So why do budgies stand on one leg?

Budgies stand on one leg when they feel relaxed, safe, and at ease. It helps them preserve energy and keep their bodies warm. However, sometimes, it could indicate sickness and physical problems.

So, budgies standing on one leg can have different implications. Let me describe all of them below.

Is It Natural For Budgies To Stand On One Leg?

Yes, it is completely natural for budgerigars to stand on one leg. It is like their second nature. In fact, you should worry if your budgie never does it. It could be because of stress or soreness.

Even chicks do it after learning to walk. They imitate their parents’ posture. But even if you separate them from their parents at an early age, they will pick it up on their own.

Why Do Budgies Stand On One Leg?

Budgies stand on one leg when they feel calm and cozy. Besides, it works as a strategy to save energy and body heat. See the table below and find all of them discussed in the upcoming sections.

Why They Do It	How It Helps Them
Taking a break from playing and exercising to rest and relax	Staying alert in case of the presence of a predator or intruder
Letting their guard down because of feeling safe in their environment	Staying warm by sharing their body heat with the leg
Reducing muscle tiredness to preserve energy

How Does The One Leg Posture Comfort Them?

All birds have the anatomy of the vestibular apparatus that allows them to stand on one leg. Our budgies are no exception.

In addition to their inner ears’ balance sensors, their pelvis has another to help them keep balance with one leg without wobbling. And their ligaments make sure not to press on the muscles or joints of that leg.

So, while you and I feel anxious about their standing position, they are actually doing it because of comfort. Don’t let that get on your nerves!

Why Do They Do It When They Feel Safe?

You will never see a busy, excited, or stressed budgie standing on one leg. If you bring a new budgie, it will not do it for a while.

When they get used to a comfortable and relaxing environment, they feel safe and peacefully fall asleep on one leg. Otherwise, a restless and noisy environment with too many activities will not let them relax. It works as an effective sign whether you made them a good home.

If your budgies do not relax often, know that you should change the environment to quieter and cozier.

How Do They Stay Alert When Standing On One Leg?

Some birds sit instead of standing on one leg, depending on their weight. But budgies do not need to do that, as they are lightweight. For them, using one leg to stand works better.

According to research, it correlates with their tarsus length. The longer it is, the easier it is for the birds to use one leg to stand.

Lucky for budgies, it is long enough to relax in this position. It helps them observe intruders. They can start flying immediately after sensing their presence. Clever, right?

How Does The Standing Position Keep Them Warm?

When the budgies tuck up the naked leg under their feathers, it takes in their body heat. Thus, the standing position keeps them warm.

During the winter, the legs of budgies get too cold as their skin is thin and has no feathers. So, their fluffy feathers help them stay warm and protect them from biting cold.

Like other birds, they thermoregulate by using their legs. So, when they overheat, their blood vessels channel the warm blood through their feet and balance the temperature.

How Does It Enable Budgies To Save Energy?

Standing on one leg enables budgies to relax the other leg. As they do not need both feet to carry their weight all the time, they use only one to let the other rest.

If the birds rest for a while, they will switch their legs and divide their job. This is how they preserve energy by not working two legs simultaneously.

You will notice the behavior in summer, too. That does not mean they are doing it to keep themselves warm. It is simply a strategy to alleviate their muscle fatigue and save energy.

Do Budgies Stand On One Leg Only To Feel Comfortable And Save Energy?

Well, as much as we all budgie owners would like that, it is not always the case. Sometimes, the unipedal posture is a sign of something serious. They may stop using their raised leg to stand. Even if they do, they will instantly lift it.

When you notice such behavior, check whether your budgies are sick, injured, or in pain. If it seems severe, do not delay to consult a vet.

Check out these reasons.

• Wounds: One of my budgies refused to stand on its wounded right leg after having a fight with another budgie. If that sounds familiar, find out how your budgie got hurt. They can also get injured on their own.

• Lack of Vitamin D: It can weaken their bones and fracture them. Get your birds enough sunlight to prevent it.

• Pain: Their delicate bones will get hurt if the perch is too broad and thin to sit. They will lose their grip when trying to sit and end up with sore joints.

• Bugs: Bugs like scaly mites will cause them itching and discomfort. As a result, they will not feel at ease and relax standing on one leg.

• Illness: Any illness will make budgies suffer. They will have neither the energy nor the coziness to enjoy the unipedal position.