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  5. Animals That Waddle (10 Examples With Pictures)

Animals That Waddle (10 Examples With Pictures)

Animals That Waddle (10 Examples With Pictures)

I always like penguins because they are just adorable. They also look clumsy, including in the way they walk. 

I then realize that there is an explanation for why penguins walk that way. I also learned that their “clumsy walk” is called a waddle. However, are there other animals that waddle?

Yes! There are other animals besides penguins that waddle instead of walking. Some of them waddle because of their body structure.

Other animals waddle because it is an alternative to walking, influenced by their habitat. 

Let us get to know more about animals that waddle!

Examples of Animals That Waddle

  • Ducks
  • Penguins
  • Swans
  • Geese
  • Pigeons
  • Cormorants
  • Dachshunds
  • Pembroke Welsh Corgis
  • English Bulldogs
  • Pomeranians

Ducks

gray duck on green grass

Scientific Name: Anatidae
Type of Animal: Aves

When it comes to waddling, the first animals that come into mind are ducks. They are the epitome of waddling, with their left and right shuffling.

Interestingly, it also means that these feathery animals cannot walk. As waterfowls, ducks are animals that have webbed feet. They use this adaptation to paddle and steer in the water more efficiently.

Ducks are also excellent swimmers, using their feet to move forward. However, once these waterfowls step on land, they look somehow clumsy.

Ducks’ bodies are designed perfectly for their habitat. Since land is not their habitat, these birds may struggle walking.

Another factor that causes ducks to waddle instead of the walk is the lack of nerve endings on their feet. The lack of nerves and muscles is essential for a duck’s survival.

With their webfoot almost purely tendons and bones, it will prevent freezing. It has the same effect as feathers being a protective barrier on ducks’ bodies.

Penguins

a group of penguins waddling

Scientific Name: Spheniscidae
Type of Animal: Aves

Penguins are also another famous bird on the list for their waddles. Like ducks, penguins’ feet are designed to make them great swimmers.

Besides their feet, there are a lot of factors influencing these flightless birds’ waddles. Penguins have short legs, not allowing them to stretch for a longer stride.

Interestingly, their waddle or rocking motion helps raise the center of their mass. Without it, it will push their muscles to work harder, tiring them easier.

Penguins cannot rely on their slow but adorable waddle when traveling from one spot to another. So, they have no choice but to slide on their belly.

It helps them move faster but with no risk of falling. Just like a car, these flightless birds use their flippers and feet to steer and brake. 

Thanks to their blubber, penguins can safely lie on their bellies.

Swans

a white swan near the water

Scientific Name: Cygnus
Type of Animal: Aves

Known as some of the most graceful animals, swans seem to be the perfect image of classy. So, it is kind of amusing to learn that they actually waddle.

Like the other aquatic birds, swans have feet perfect for smooth swimming on the water, and their webbed feet help them do it effortlessly.

Swans also rely on their feet to launch them into flight. Once they walk on land, these beautiful white birds will start rocking left to right. 

This motion makes them look as if they are waddling. When in reality, these tremendous white birds are clumsy and awkward.

Understandably, swans are also not frequent land visitors. Almost what they need, including food such as small fish and snails, is found in the water.

So, it should not be a surprise when you find a swan that cannot walk on land. 

Geese

black goose walking on grass

Scientific Name: Anser
Type of Animal: Aves

Geese is another bird in the family that waddles. Similar to its cousins, these waterfowl have legs designed primarily for paddling. Their legs are quite apart from each other.

Geese also have large webbed feet, which did not help their case when walking on land. It looks as if these birds are wearing swim fins similar to divers. 

However, among the bird family, geese are way better walkers than swans and ducks. It is thanks to the fact that they feed and graze grass and water plants on the land.

There are instances where geese are able to lessen their waddles. But it is still inevitable for them to rock left and right due to the position of their legs.

Geese’s legs are placed farther forward in their body than swans or ducks. This bird also proves its supremacy over its cousins by being able to stand on one leg.

Read Also: Evil Animals

Pigeons

a pigeon mid-walk

Scientific Name: Columbidae
Type of Animal: Aves

Pigeons are probably one of the most interesting birds on the list of animals that waddle. First, they are not as popular as the waterfowls in terms of waddles.

People know pigeons for their intelligence and seemingly witty behavior. However, like their water cousins, this bluebird waddles.

Well, technically, pigeons actually walk instead of waddling. The reason why these birds seem waddling is because of their bobbing.

When you spot a pigeon, it tends to bounce its head or neck back and forth. From afar (or even next to it), a pigeon looks as if waddling. Thanks to its blue bobbing head.

Although they walk, pigeons do not walk as humans do. With their binocular vision, they tend to get distracted easily. So, they quickly move their head from one side to another.

Pigeons are easily distracted animals. But once something gets their attention, they keep their eyesight steady.

Cormorants

black cormorant standing on the trunk

Scientific Name: Phalacrocoracidae
Type of Animal: Aves

Cormorant is another waterfowl known for waddling locomotion. Similar to other birds of the water, they have webbed feet.

The cormorant is a great swimmer with powerful paddling. Another interesting thing about these birds is they are cliff-dwellers.

Besides being swimmers, cormorants are also water diving birds. 

Cormorants build their nests along the rocky cliffs. They spend significant time on land building their nest. However, it does not mean that they also spend time walking on it.

These large birds will do anything to avoid walking on land. They are clumsy walkers, which is mainly attributed to their short legs.

Cormorants’ terrible walk may have been commensurate with their excellent diving skills. But by a weird twist of fate, their feathers are not waterproof. Instead, it gets waterlogged to help them sink and dive better.

Dachshunds

funny looking dachshund running

Scientific Name: Canis lupus familiaris
Type of Animal: Mammal

It is not only birds that are known for their waddles. Dachshunds are one of the dogs that are spotted to waddle.

This adorable dog has a long body and short, stubby legs. With their intelligence and friendliness, dachshunds are great pets.

By now, we see that there is a trend among short legs animals tending to waddle. Dachshunds are no exception, with their body shape making them look like shuffling.

Although they walk fast, dachshunds only look as if they are bouncing left and right. However, any pet owner will agree that these short dogs shuffling moves make them look cuter.

Unfortunately, waddling is not always a good sign for your dachshund. Although it is normal for a dachshund to shuffle left and right, it may also signify that your dog has arthritis or a spinal issue.

Pembroke Welsh Corgis

a Pembroke Welsh corgi sitting on the sand

Scientific Name: Canis lupus familiaris
Type of Animal: Mammal

Pembroke Welsh corgis, also known as corgis, are mainly known for their bubble buttock. This dog breed became an online sensation for its cuteness overload.

Besides their cute puppy faces and jiggly bottom, corgis received love for the waddle and wiggle walks. Every time they walk, it looks as if corgis bounce from one side to another.

No wonder people describe corgi’s walks as twerking. This furry dog has one of the bounciest bums in the dog world. A lot of pet owners share their corgi’s butt walk videos online.

Although cute and amusing, corgis waddle can also be a serious sign of an illness. One popular theory is your corgi may be suffering from hip dysplasia.

Such illness is a genetic disorder that can pass from one family member to another. Sadly, it is a common disease for all dog breeds.

English Bulldogs

close up photo of an English bulldog

Scientific Name: Canis lupus familiaris
Type of Animal: Mammal

The English bulldog is another canine on the list of waddle animals. This dog breed is notorious for its awkward locomotion.

However, the English bulldog is more famous for its wrinkly face. Although described as an old man, this fine dog has also received love for being adorable. 

This dog also exudes an aura of rigor and stability, just like a fine English man. Like others in this list, the English bulldog waddle due to its short legs. 

Even though it has a stocky and muscular build, no one takes the English bulldog seriously once it starts to walk.

Interestingly though, even with short legs, the English bulldog is an agile and fast canine. Even with its sporty aura, this grumpy-looking dog is adorable and friendly to people.

However, the English bulldog may act against other dogs they are not familiar. 

Pomeranians

brown pomeranian on white pillow

Scientific Name: Canis lupus familiaris
Type of Animal: Mammal

Pomeranian is a small canine with luscious hair all around its body. With their cute and lovely aura, these tiny pooches have an extroverted personality.

Many pet owners love them for just being an outgoing type of dog breed. It is a bonus for them to watch Pomeranians waddle away and towards them.

Like the other animals on this list, Pomeranians have tiny legs. However, they look like they are waddling because of their buttock. It helps that they have thick fur, exaggerating their every movement.

Although fun to look at, a waddle may also serve as a sign that your Pomeranian needs help. The most common cause of waddle for dogs is arthritis. 

Some people may also misinterpret a limp for a waddle. There is a difference between the two. Make sure to focus on how the dog carries its feet.

In Summary

Waddling is a type of locomotion in which an animal takes short steps, swinging its body from one side to the other. Penguins are well-known waddle animals, but they are not the only ones. Examples of animals that waddle include ducks, cormorants, swans, and geese, among others. 

Thank you for reading!

If you liked this post, here’s a recommendation of another popular read: Animals That Have Flippers

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