Penguins
Waddle, Swim, Repeat!
Penguins are some of the cutest and most interesting birds on Earth. They may look like they are wearing tiny black-and-white suits, but penguins are real wildlife heroes of cold and ocean life. Even though they are birds, penguins cannot fly. Instead, they are excellent swimmers and use their flippers to “fly” through water!
Where Do Penguins Live?
Most penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere. A few even live in warmer places near the equator, like the Galápagos Islands.
How Do Penguins Survive the Cold?
Penguins have thick feathers and a layer of fat called blubber that keeps them warm in freezing temperatures. They also huddle together in big groups to share body heat during cold winds and snowstorms.
Penguin Families
Penguins are very caring parents. In some species, like the Emperor Penguin, the father keeps the egg warm on his feet while the mother goes to find food. Once the baby penguin hatches, both parents take turns feeding and protecting it.
What Do Penguins Eat?
Penguins mainly eat seafood that they find in the ocean. Their food includes fish, squid, and tiny sea animals called krill. Penguins are excellent swimmers and divers. They use their strong flippers to move quickly through the water and catch their food. Some penguins can dive very deep and stay underwater for several minutes while hunting.
Penguins are full of surprises and fun facts. They cannot fly in the air, but they are amazing swimmers and can move faster than many fish. Penguins often slide on their bellies across the ice, which is called tobogganing. There are about 18 different species of penguins in the world, and each penguin has a unique call so it can recognize its family in a noisy group.