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BIRD BASICS 

PENGUINS

PARROTS

SONG BIRDS

DUCKS

MIGRATION

TEACHER'S ASSISTANT  

Penguins are one of the most well-known creatures in the world. They belong to the bird family.  They are birds because they lay eggs, have feathers, and are warm-blooded animals.  Most birds fly, but penguins don't.  They use their flippers to swim.

Penguins have long, flat flippers that help them swim and dive for fish, squid, and krill. They have very short legs that are set far back on their lower body.  They stand upright and waddle when they walk.  Penguins move over land by walking, jumping and sliding. Penguins that live on the ice can slide or go tobogganing on their bellies down hills and slopes. They lay down and push off with their flippers and slide across the ice. Penguins are also good jumpers. They can jump the height and width of their own bodies.
They often hop or jump over rocks or holes.

Penguins are covered with waterproof feathers. The feathers are stiff, short and grow close together. These feathers grow over a thick coat of fluffy down. Penguins have a thick layer of blubber, or fat right under their skin. This blubber keeps them insulated from the cold snow and icy waters they swim in.
 

All penguins have about the same colors. They have a black back and a white belly. This is called protective coloration or camouflage. When a penguin floats on its belly in the water their enemies, such as a leopard seal or the killer whale can not see the penguin. This is because when the predator looks up through the water it can not see the penguin because the light shining through the water makes everything  look white. This is also true for the black head and back. As the penguin floats in the water, its black coloring is hard to see in the water because the water also looks black. The black coloring on the back and head also helps the penguin soak in the warmth from the sun.

Penguins are super swimmers. When penguins float they use their flippers to paddle through the water. When they dive and swim they use their flippers to fly through the water. They use their flippers for swimming like other birds use their wings for flying. Most penguins can dive extremely deep and can hold their breath for many minutes. They have large round eyes that help them to see in the dark water. Penguins can swim up to hundreds of miles in search of food.

Like all birds penguins lay eggs.  Different types of penguins each have their own mating habits. Penguins form a bond between a male and female. This is done through different actions from the males. The male will flap his flippers, puff out his chest feathers, arch his neck, and make loud braying sounds to show off for the females. Once a pair have bonded they will mate. Soon after one or two eggs are laid. The eggs are cared for by both parents in nest made out of rocks, pebbles, sticks, anything they can find. The Emperor penguin rolls the egg onto the top of the male's feet. It takes from 30 to 60 days for the eggs to hatch, depending on which kind of penguin it is. After the chick has been raised, the male and female break up. But often they will return to the same breeding ground and mate year after year.

Penguin chicks are covered with a thick layer of warm fuzzy, brown feathers called down. This down keeps them very warm. The male and female both care for the chicks by bringing back food to them in their stomachs. They force food up out of their stomachs and place it in the chicks' mouth. Even though two eggs are hatched, often only one chick will survive. Once the chicks are 2 to 3 weeks old, they will gather together in groups called a creche. The chicks will stay together in groups for warmth and safety while the parents go to the open sea to hunt for food. When the parents return they will call to their chicks. The chicks recognize its parents' sound and will go to them.
 

The Macaroni Penguin

Penguins live in many different habitats, or places. They live from the frozen land of Antarctica to the sandy beaches of Africa. They live from the rocky coasts of South America to the coasts of New Zealand. Penguins have adapted to more habitats and  climates than any other animal in the world.

 
Click here to see where different types of penguins live.
 

Penguin Activities!

Here are a bunch of penguin activities to do.  Just click on the link!

Complete a penguin puzzle.
Activity 1

Find out how penguins keep their eggs warm.
Activity 2

Choose up to two activities: