Porpoising is the penguin’s specialized movement of repeatedly leaping out of the water while swimming.
A porpoising penguin alternates underwater strokes with short aerial leaps, creating a rhythmic motion that resembles the behavior of porpoises and some other marine animals. The technique may help a bird travel quickly and may reduce drag during parts of a journey.
Penguins can also porpoise near shore, around ice or while approaching a landing site. The movement is different from tobogganing, in which a penguin slides over snow or ice on its belly while pushing with its feet.
Porpoising is not the same as flying. Penguins are flightless birds whose wings have evolved into stiff flippers for underwater propulsion. Their aerial leaps are brief and controlled rather than sustained flight.