How Does a Penguin Swim?

Instructions

Flying Without Wings

1. Penguins are birds who don't fly in the air. Instead, they have flippers that allow them to "fly" through the water. They flap their flippers to get around, just like other birds do in the air. The only time a penguin soars through the air is when they jump from a cliff into the water.

Steering & Speed

1. Penguins have a body shape that is designed to help them go as fast as possible. It is similar in shape to a fish or a boat. They use their feet to steer, just like the rudder of a boat.
   In order to stay streamlined, penguins keep their head and feet close to their body while they swim. Some penguins have been known to swim more than 8 miles an hour.

Breathing

1. Even though penguins spend so much time in the water, they aren't fish. Penguins must come to the surface of the water so they can breathe air. When traveling at high speeds, some types of penguins leap in the air to breathe. This is called "porpoising."