The Types of Penguins

All penguins are short-legged, flightless, aquatic birds. There are 16 different species. While many penguins thrive in cold weather, not all live in the Antarctic. They are spread throughout the Southern hemisphere, from Australia and New Zealand to Africa and South America.

  1. Emperor Penguin

    • The emperor penguin is a bird adapted to extreme weather. They are the largest penguin, standing slightly more than 3 feet tall. They have a pale, yellow patch under their black head that fades into the rest of their body. They breed during the Antarctic winter, which lasts from March to December. The eggs and chicks are balanced on the parents' legs to prevent them from freezing to death on the ice. As no nests are built, the colony huddles together for warmth. Males are responsible for incubating the eggs while the females search for food, mostly fish and squid.

    Rockhopper Penguin

    • Rockhopper penguins are distinguished from other crested penguins by their smaller size. The crested plumes are yellow and the birds have unique red eyes. They range from South America and the Falkland Islands to New Zealand. Colonies gather on rocky slopes, hence the bird's name. The first laid eggs rarely survive. Crustaceans make up most of the rockhopper's diet, though they are known to eat some fish.

    Little Penguin

    • The little penguin is the world's smallest penguin. Their color is mainly a dark gray-blue but some brownish hues can show up in their faces. Unlike other penguins, these are somewhat nocturnal. They don't enter the shore until after dusk. Daytime is spent foraging for food, usually small fish. Once on shore, they burrow under trees or in rock crevices and caves. Sometimes they form colonies but single pairs are also common. Little penguins are abundant in Australia and New Zealand.

    Yellow-Eyed Penguin

    • The yellow-eyed penguin is generally thought to be the rarest penguin in the world. They are also one of the most unique with striking yellow eyes and yellow stripes that extend back along the head behind the eyes. The head itself even has a pale yellowish tint. They nest in vegetation among dunes or coastal forests in New Zealand and rear chicks for a comparatively long 100 days. They don't generally form colonies and they forage for food alone, mainly fish and sometimes squid.