They swim underwater with powerful strokes of their wings. A penguin uses its webbed feet and stiff tail as a rudder . They can make porpoiselike leaps from the water's surface. They can come ashore by walking onto protected beaches or by vaulting themselves out of the water onto land. Then they waddle erect, climb steep slopes , or toboggan on their bellies over the snow.
Penguins gather into large colonies to breed.
They return year after year to the same rookery . The colonies are noisy with the harsh calls made by hundreds of penguins. Click here for science notebook assignment.