How fast do penguins swim?
Different species of penguins can swim at different speeds. Generally the larger species swim faster than the smaller ones. Gentoo penguins have been clocked at speeds of 15 miles per hour.   (That is the speed limit through a school zone.)
 
 

Why do penguins have white fronts and black backs?
The usual reason given is that it provides camouflage when the birds are in the water.  The
black backs mean that the penguins are difficult to see from above against the dark seas,
while the white fronts make them hard to see from below against the light sky.

Another explanation sometimes suggested is that the penguins can use their colouration as a
form of thermal control.  If they are cold they can stand with their black backs to the sun and
so absorb heat, while if they are hot they can stand with their white fronts to the sun and
reflect the sun's rays
 
 

How do penguins keep warm?
The insulation is provided in layers, under the skin is a thick layer of blubber, then there is a layer of downy feathers that trap air, and finally another layer of waterproof feathers that keep the cold water away from the skin.
 
 

How long do Penguins live?
In the wild there haven't been any reliable long term studies of individual penguins that can
tell how long they live. Zoos reckon birds live 10 to 20 years depending on species, with the larger species generally being longer lived.
 
 

What sounds do penquins make?
All penguins use sounds to communicate.  Chicks in large colonies need to be able to attract
their own parents so that they can be fed, adults need to recognise one another when they
come back from fishing trips, etc.  Different species make different noises such as a high pitched whistling, braying sounds (like a donkeynoise, trilling sound, a shrill,screaming voice, or a trumpeting sound.

questions and answers from Pete and Barb's Penguin Pages-FAQ's