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Penguins

Penguins are flightless seabirds whose wings function as flippers during underwater pursuit. Dense plumage and a streamlined body support diving, while an upright stance makes their land silhouette immediately recognisable. Examples include King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus), Adelie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae), and Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor). They take fish, squid and crustaceans in proportions that vary among species. Size, facial markings and breeding behaviour differ substantially, from small coastal penguins to large Antarctic forms. Penguins are not confined to ice: temperate coasts and even equatorial islands form part of the family's range, with access to suitable marine food remaining essential.

How to recognize Penguins

  • Bill: pointed bills of varied lengths.
  • Outline: upright bodies with flipper-like wings.
  • Feeding: pursuing fish and other marine prey underwater.

Where they live

Southern Hemisphere oceans and coasts support most penguins, with breeding sites ranging from Antarctic ice to rocky islands, beaches and coastal burrows. Feeding occurs at sea, while land or ice is needed for breeding and moult. Local marine conditions can be more important than the air temperature suggested by a colony photograph. King, Adélie and Little Penguins illustrate contrasting climates and nesting settings within this single family.

Species accounts: King Penguin · Adelie Penguin · Little Penguin

Sources — natural history: Wikipedia: Penguins natural history · Cornell Birds of the World: King Penguin species account · Don Roberson: Penguins field observations and natural history.

Classification: IOC World Bird List: family names and classification.

Some Cornell Birds of the World account sections require a subscription.

Updated 2026-11-06. Species counts follow this site's catalogue. This is an editorial summary, not an expert peer review.

Explore similarities in appearance, feeding and habitat. These comparisons do not necessarily indicate the closest evolutionary relatives.

Species records retain their original English, Chinese and scientific names.

19 results · page 1 of 1

King PenguinKing PenguinAptenodytes patagonicusEmperor PenguinEmperor PenguinAptenodytes forsteriAdelie PenguinAdelie PenguinPygoscelis adeliaeChinstrap PenguinChinstrap PenguinPygoscelis antarcticusGentoo PenguinGentoo PenguinPygoscelis papuaLittle PenguinLittle PenguinEudyptula minorGalapagos PenguinGalapagos PenguinSpheniscus mendiculusHumboldt PenguinHumboldt PenguinSpheniscus humboldtiMagellanic PenguinMagellanic PenguinSpheniscus magellanicusAfrican PenguinAfrican PenguinSpheniscus demersusYellow-eyed PenguinYellow-eyed PenguinMegadyptes antipodesMacaroni PenguinMacaroni PenguinEudyptes chrysolophusRoyal PenguinRoyal PenguinEudyptes schlegeliNorthern Rockhopper PenguinNorthern Rockhopper PenguinEudyptes moseleyiEastern Rockhopper PenguinEastern Rockhopper PenguinEudyptes filholiWestern Rockhopper PenguinWestern Rockhopper PenguinEudyptes chrysocomeFiordland PenguinFiordland PenguinEudyptes pachyrhynchusSnares PenguinSnares PenguinEudyptes robustusErect-crested PenguinErect-crested PenguinEudyptes sclateri