• Question: why can't penguins fly

    Asked by to Jennifer on 23 Jun 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Jennifer Stephens

      Jennifer Stephens answered on 23 Jun 2014:

      Hi smithyboy27

      Penguins bodies are more suited to flying through water rather than air. Their wings are different from other birds. If you imagine your arms are wings and you try to fly you would bend them at the shoulder, the elbow and the wrist like most birds. Penguins wings are fused and they can only bend at the shoulder. This makes them really powerful in the water but not good for flying.

      Penguins also have solid bones, webbed feet and blubber which all help them to perform better in water than air.

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