Penguins!!

They're cute, adorable, when they're little babies they are so, so, SO fuzzy!! Everyone wants one! How could you not. The only downfall is that they kind of stink. They poop... A LOT! What do you expect? They're birds. These flightless birds are still fun to watch swim around when you go to the zoo.

What is there to know about penguins? Maybe the fact that they are flightless. They can't fly (a lot of birds can't. It's not something that is uncommon.) Even though that they can't fly, people say that they can "fly" underwater because they sure can swim. They glide through the Antarctic waters when they fish. Haven't you noticed that they look like they're wear tuxedos? Well, it's not for them to look snazzy, it's actually a type of camouflage called "countershading." It's like sharks. They have a darker feathered top so predators above them don't see them, and white on the bottom so fish don't see them when they look up. The white will look like the sunlight coming through the water and the darker colors will look like the water from the top. And although penguins spend most of their lives in the water catching and eating fish, they also go on land Mostly just to raise their young.


Penguins have wing-bones. It's a little hard to believe because they're very flipper-like and with wing-bones, it makes it a little harder for them to swim. However, these bones are suited for swimming. A penguins diet is mainly krill, fish, and squid. Not all penguins eat these though. Penguins that are closer to the equator will tend to eat more fish than fish that are closer to Antarctica, where the penguins tend to eat more krill and squid.

The highest population of penguins is the the Macaroni Penguin. These penguins look a little funny... They have yellow eyebrows that look like macaroni noodles (hence the name, Macaroni Penguins.) Have you seen or heard of that movie "Surf's Up?" That one penguin that wants to learn how to surf from the pro is a Macaroni Penguin. Macaroni Penguins live along the Antarctic Peninsula, Sub Antarctic Regions, South America and the islands that are around them. They prefer colder climate. The "social interaction" between each other is common, especially when it comes to the younger ones. These are a very less aggressive type of penguin, except when it comes to protecting their young, I mean, who wouldn't be aggressive them? Also, the females are known for being aggressive when they want to get the attention of a male when it's time for them to make little babies. (wink, wink.)

The lowest population of penguins is the the Galapagos Penguin. The Galapagos Penguins are small and are the only penguins that are found north if the equator and in the galapagos. The population is the lowest with under 1,000 breeding pairs, which is kind of sad. These penguins are different because unlike other penguins, they don't have a regular breeding season. They can have up to about 3 clutches of a mating "season" a year, which is 2 more than the other species. They're also the smallest penguins. They're only about 50 centimeters (19 inches.) And weigh an average of 5.5 pounds. They're so small and cute! Sadly, because they are so small, they have a lot of predators. On land, the main predator is crabs, snakes, these things called rice rats, cats, hawks, and even owls. In water, their predators are a little more scary. Because they live on islands by the equator, a lot marine life can attack. Things like sharks, fur seals, and sea lions. These poor birds, they can't really survive can they? Life is a struggle for them.

One of my favorite penguins are the Emperor Penguin. They're the biggest penguins out of 17 species of penguins. They stand to be about 45 inches tall (3.75 feet) and weigh about 84 pounds. These birds are the only things that inhabit Antarctica during the winter. They can face up to -76 degrees fahrenheit, which we, as humans, would have no chance of surviving, and blizzards that can have wind speeds that can rise up to about 124 mph. Have you seen that movie Happy Feet? That one scene when the dad's are carrying the eggs and Mambo, the one who dances, egg gets blown but the dad catches it, they were in a blizzard and that's really what it's like for these birds to endure. The only way that they are able to endure these harsh climates is by having a lot of adaptations. For example, their feathers. Emperor Penguins have 4 layers of almost scaly feathers that help them survive those harsh winters. They can also store a lot of fat to help keep them warm, it's like blubber on a whale. Not only have they found ways to adapt heat wise, but also by traveling. They don't just swim, they also have to walk you know. When they walk on the slippery ice, they use these really strong claws that are on their feet to hold on to the ice while they waddle along. They also do the famous belly slide! Their stomachs are sleek and slippery so it makes it easy for them to slide.

The Winter begins in March in Antarctica, and every winter Emperor Penguins travel up to 50 miles up ice to reach a good breeding ground. The males tend to get there first so they can get ready to impress the ladies. Some penguins will find a new mate each year or they stay with the same one. That's pretty cute. Incase you didn't know, the males are the ones to keep the egg safe and warm while the females go out and hunt for food. The males balance the egg on their feet and cover it with a think layer of feathers. They huddle together to stay warm and the male doesn't eat anything until the females come back with food.