Learning About All Kinds of Penguins!
Click on the pictures below
Emperor Penguins:
Click on the picture below
Facts about Emperor Penguins:
*Emperor penguins are the largest penguin species. They are nearly 4 feet tall and weigh up to 90 pounds. Those are BIG penguins!
*Emperor penguins are easy to identify by their size and the orange "glow" on their cheeks.
*Emperor penguins live in the Antarctic. Temperatures can fall as low as -140 degrees Fahrenheit (-60 degrees Celsius). Emperor Penguins only lay one egg at a time because they live in such a harsh climate.
*Most penguin species take turns warming the egg, but it's up to the Emperor penguin dads who do all the work once the egg is laid. The dad stands with the egg on his feet under a brood pouch (for warmth). He does this for up to 9 weeks, without food, waiting for the chick to hatch. During this time, the dad may lose up to half its body weight.
*Once the egg hatches, the mom returns and the male heads out to the ocean to feed.
*Emperor penguins are easy to identify by their size and the orange "glow" on their cheeks.
*Emperor penguins live in the Antarctic. Temperatures can fall as low as -140 degrees Fahrenheit (-60 degrees Celsius). Emperor Penguins only lay one egg at a time because they live in such a harsh climate.
*Most penguin species take turns warming the egg, but it's up to the Emperor penguin dads who do all the work once the egg is laid. The dad stands with the egg on his feet under a brood pouch (for warmth). He does this for up to 9 weeks, without food, waiting for the chick to hatch. During this time, the dad may lose up to half its body weight.
*Once the egg hatches, the mom returns and the male heads out to the ocean to feed.
Adelie Penguins:
Click on the picture below
Facts about Adelie Penguins:
* Adelie penguins are the smallest of the Antarctic penguins. One way to distinguish them from the other penguins is by their all black head and the white ring around their eye.
* They are about 2 feet tall and weigh 8 or 9 pounds.
* Adelies build their nests of stones on the rocky beaches of Antarctica, jealously guarding and often fighting over the best rocks.
* They live in groups of about 10,000 birds called colonies.
* The mom usually lays two eggs in the nest, Both parents care for the eggs. While one stays behind keeping the eggs warm and safe, the other parent heads out to sea to eat. They mostly eat krill, tiny shrimplike animals, but also eat fish and squid.
* Parents take turns caring for their babies after they hatch until the chicks are about three weeks old. At that point, both parents may leave to find food while the chicks gather in the safety of a large group of other young penguins. These groups of young Adélies are called crèches.
* When Adélie chicks are about nine weeks old, their downy baby feathers have been replaced by waterproof adult feathers. They plunge into the sea, and start hunting for food on their own.
* Adélies are excellent swimmers, with torpedo-shaped bodies that speed through the water. Their modified wings help propel them through water instead of air. These birds are swimmers, not fliers.
* They are about 2 feet tall and weigh 8 or 9 pounds.
* Adelies build their nests of stones on the rocky beaches of Antarctica, jealously guarding and often fighting over the best rocks.
* They live in groups of about 10,000 birds called colonies.
* The mom usually lays two eggs in the nest, Both parents care for the eggs. While one stays behind keeping the eggs warm and safe, the other parent heads out to sea to eat. They mostly eat krill, tiny shrimplike animals, but also eat fish and squid.
* Parents take turns caring for their babies after they hatch until the chicks are about three weeks old. At that point, both parents may leave to find food while the chicks gather in the safety of a large group of other young penguins. These groups of young Adélies are called crèches.
* When Adélie chicks are about nine weeks old, their downy baby feathers have been replaced by waterproof adult feathers. They plunge into the sea, and start hunting for food on their own.
* Adélies are excellent swimmers, with torpedo-shaped bodies that speed through the water. Their modified wings help propel them through water instead of air. These birds are swimmers, not fliers.
African Penguins:
Click on the picture below
Facts about African Penguins:
* African penguins have a black upside down U-shape on their neck with black speckles on their chest.
* They are about 2 feet tall and weigh between 7 and 11 pounds.
* African penguins live and breed on the coast of South Africa.
*People have hunted these penguins so much that their numbers declined from at least one million to about 150,000. They are now a protected species, but are still caused trouble by oil spills off the coast of Africa.
* African penguins are also known as the Blackfoot penguin.
* They eat small fish like anchovies and sardines; squid, and some shellfish
* They are about 2 feet tall and weigh between 7 and 11 pounds.
* African penguins live and breed on the coast of South Africa.
*People have hunted these penguins so much that their numbers declined from at least one million to about 150,000. They are now a protected species, but are still caused trouble by oil spills off the coast of Africa.
* African penguins are also known as the Blackfoot penguin.
* They eat small fish like anchovies and sardines; squid, and some shellfish
Gentoo Penguins:
Click on the picture below
Facts about Gentoo Penguins:
* Gentoo penguins have a beautiful white strap on their heads that runs from the one eye to the other.
* Gentoo penguins live on many of the islands of the Antarctic region but their main colony is on the Falklands.
* They are about 3 feet tall and weigh about 13 pounds.
* They eat krill and some small fish.
* Gentoo penguins are easily identifiable by the wide white stripe over the top of their head. It runs from one eye to the other.
* Gentoo penguins make nests on the inland grasslands. They pile stones, grass and sticks to create a circular nest.
* Gentoo penguins live on many of the islands of the Antarctic region but their main colony is on the Falklands.
* They are about 3 feet tall and weigh about 13 pounds.
* They eat krill and some small fish.
* Gentoo penguins are easily identifiable by the wide white stripe over the top of their head. It runs from one eye to the other.
* Gentoo penguins make nests on the inland grasslands. They pile stones, grass and sticks to create a circular nest.