If you have watched the famous animated movies “Happy Feet” or “Penguins of Madagascar”, you are probably familiar with characters such as Sven the Puffin that remind us of the fact that penguins cannot really fly; at least not in the traditional sense. Despite having wings of their own, and being classified as birds, you will never see a penguin soaring in the sky like an eagle or a crow. This is because their wings are much too small to support the weight of their bodies, which are packed with fat and feathers to help them survive the cold environment that they usually inhabit.
Yet, penguins do in fact fly! They do not fly in the air like other birds, but they soar underwater. The shape and qualities of their bodies and wings make them extremely great swimmers. The average penguin can reach speeds from between 4 to 7 miles per hour. However, the fastest species of penguins, called the Gentoo, can swim at 22 miles per hour. The awkward waddle that they display when walking on land serves to be in complete contrast to the smooth, quick motion that the penguins adopt when underwater in the process of hunting fish.