Penguin Facts for Kindergarten

Penguins are birds that prefer the water to the air. In fact, penguins can't fly at all. They spend most of their time swimming and diving through water to collect food. These birds, which sometimes resemble little humans in tuxedos, are even capable of living in the frigid lands of Antarctica.

  1. Types

    • There are around 17 to 20 different kinds of penguins, which vary by appearance and behavior. For example, the Fairy Penguin is one of the shortest species. It is 16 inches tall and has blue and black feathers. The Emperor Penguin, the largest species, is about 44 inches tall and has black, white and yellow feathers. According to the British Antarctic Survey, fossils show that more kinds of penguin existed in the past. Some were as tall as human adults.

    Prey and Predators

    • Penguin diets vary depending on where they live, but they usually eat fish, squid, krill and crustaceans. On land, bigger birds, such as skuas, pose a threat to eggs and baby penguins. In the water, even adult penguins must be cautious of hungry sharks, killer whales and leopard seals.

    Travel

    • On land, penguins waddle, hop or slide on their bellies to move around. Small penguins can dive to about 500 feet underwater. Larger penguins can reach depths of more than 1,000 feet. Their strong, sleek bodies allow them to swim faster than five miles per hour for long distances. For example, Emperor Penguins can travel more than 40 miles in a single day.

    Colonies

    • Penguins live in colonies in rocky outcrops, beaches and icy areas. Millions of penguin couples mate in these colonies. Colonies appear around the southern hemisphere. For example, Emperor Penguins live on the Antarctic continent, Erect-Crested Penguins appear around New Zealand, African Penguins swim through the South African waters and Humboldt Penguins find colonies around the coasts of South America. Some species, like the Galapagos Penguin, are endangered and only occupy a single location.