Is a penguin a bird?

企鹅是鸟吗？

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This question arises because we often see images of these creatures swimming underwater, or waddling in an ungainly way across the icy wastes of Antarctica: penguins can’t fly and we typically associate birds with soaring through the air. However, penguins are classified as birds in zoological terms. They are black and white flightless seabirds of the family Spheniscidae which are found in the southern hemisphere, chiefly in the Antarctic (although several species live in more temperate regions).

之所以会提出这个问题，是因为我们经常看到这些生灵在南极的水底畅游，或是在冰块上笨拙地行走的情景——企鹅不会飞，而我们又习惯性地认为鸟类都会在空中翱翔。然而，从动物术语的定义上看，企鹅属于鸟类（大家可以参看本文末尾选自柯林斯在线词典的定义）。它们是企鹅属的海鸟家族成员，身体黑白相间，不会飞，生活在南半球，主要集中在南极圈（尽管有些品种生活在更为温暖的区域）。

In common with other birds, penguins have feathers, lay eggs, and are warm-blooded. Through evolutionary processes, penguins’ wings gradually adapted to become flippers, which they use for swimming. The feathers of a penguin are relatively short and stiff in comparison to those of other birds and they overlap closely to form a thick, *** ooth layer which traps air beneath it and so provides insulation from the cold.

与其他鸟类相同的是，企鹅也有羽毛，也下蛋，也是温血动物。在生物进化的过程中，企鹅的翅膀逐渐退化为鳍状肢，主要用于游泳。与其他鸟类的羽 *** 比，企鹅的羽 *** 对较短，质地坚硬，而且这些羽 *** 互交叠，形成了一层又厚又滑的保护层，隔绝了羽毛下方的空气，从而起到了防寒的作用。

Other flightless birds include the Australian emu, the cassowary of New Guinea, and the ostrich. Unlike the penguin, they’re all more visibly ‘feathery’ as well as being land-based, so we’re probably more likely not to question the fact that they’re birds.

其它不会飞的鸟类包括澳大利亚的鸸鹋、新几内亚的食火鸡和鸵鸟。与企鹅不同的是，这些鸟类羽毛都是很明显的，而且都生活在陆地上，因此我们不大会质疑它们是鸟类的事实。

 

 

Definition of Penguin

企鹅的定义

From www.collinsdictionary.com：A penguin is a type of large black and white sea bird found mainly in the Antarctic. Penguins cannot fly but use their short wings for swimming.

柯林斯在线词典：企鹅是一种体型较大的黑白相间的海鸟，主要生活在南极圈。企鹅不会飞，但是会使用其短鳍游泳。

So, a penguin ISa bird!

所以说，企鹅是鸟类。