How do Penguins Stand Up When they Fall Over?

Most people have seen clips of penguins sliding along on their bellies. Maybe you have also seen "penguin fails" on YouTube where penguins fall or slip over. My short video below shows how penguins can get back up on there feet after falling or lying down.

An explanation of what the penguin is doing:

First the penguin is pushing it's feet as far forward as possible underneath it's belly. Then the penguin plants both it's flippers and it's beak against the snow and pushes itself up using it's strength (penguins have strong flippers for swimming), and the flexibility of it's neck (they are birds after all).

Do Penguins Have Knees?

It is easy to think that penguins don't have knees because they walk with such a waddle. However you may have noticed how far forward the penguin can put it's legs when it stands up - conclusive evidence that they do have knees! The penguins knees are just hidden by all of their feathers.

Penguin fails

The video below is not from our channel, but contains some amusing examples of the "penguin fails" that I mentioned above. If you watch carefully you can see other examples of how penguins stand up. Notice that some species of penguins are much more agile than others! The species that we used for our demonstration is the emperor penguin - the largest of all penguins!

How do Penguins Mate?

Catch a sneak peek at how the birds do it

Penguins in Antarctica

Of 17 species of penguins found in the world, only 6 are found in Antarctica. Of those 6 species, only 2 are found as far south as the McMurdo Sound where Scott Base and McMurdo Station are located: The adelie penguin and the Emperor Penguin.

Adelie Penguins

Penguins are the most anthropomorphic of all birds - and Adelies in my opinion are cutest and most comical of penguins! They are relatively small penguins averaging 70cm (27.5in) high and weighing 5kg (11pounds). These penguins are quite curious and will come right up beside you to see what you are doing. My video below was filmed at the edge of the sea ice while I was with scientists studying killer whales.

Emperor Penguins

Emperor penguins are the largest and most "majestic" of penguins. They average 1.15 meters (44in) and 30kg (66pounds) in weight. The emperor penguins are currently listed as near threatened by the IUCN, and is currently under consideration for inclusion under the US Endangered Species Act. The main risks of to this species is declining food availability due to the effects of climate change and industrial fisheries.

I recorded the video below while out on the Antarctic sea ice in McMurdo Sound. In the first frame you can see Mt Erebus in the background. In the second frame you have the Trans-Antarctic Mountain Range which includes Mt Discovery. The third frame shows the Barne Glacier, and in the last you can see the Ross Island Peninsula with Tent Island to the right.

This Page is still under construction. For more videos and information on penguins please visit the links below. Thank you!

How do Penguins Stand Up?

Penguins have long bodies and short stumpy legs. How do they get back up after falling over?

How do Penguins Mate?

Catch a sneak peek at how the birds do it