Penguin Facts & Information
Penguins are fascinating animals. Some species live in the frigid waters of Antarctica, but plenty of others, including the little penguins that nest in the St Kilda Breakwater, belong to the temperate coastlines of southern Australia and New Zealand. These adorable creatures have become wildly popular, appearing in movies, TV shows, and even on merchandise like t-shirts and hoodies.
What do you really know about these flightless birds? If you’re interested in learning more about penguins, read on to discover their physical characteristics, behavioural patterns, and more.
All About Penguins
Penguins are characterised by their thick layers of waterproof feathers, which allow them to stay warm in cold water. They have webbed feet that help them steer, as well as short, stiff wings that work as flippers in the water — no penguin can fly.
In addition to their distinctive physical features, penguins are known for their unique behavioural patterns.
For example, most penguins spend the majority of their time swimming or hunting for food in the ocean. They also tend to breed and raise their young in large colonies, often grouping together with other members of their species to build nests and protect their eggs. Little penguins at St Kilda forage at sea all day and come ashore after dusk, under cover of darkness.
So, the next time you see a cute penguin photo or video on social media, take the time to learn more about these amazing animals and appreciate their unique place in the animal kingdom.
What Do Penguins Eat?
Penguins are carnivorous animals, meaning that they eat primarily meat and other animal-based foods. Their diet typically consists of fish, krill, and other small marine animals that they hunt in the ocean.
Some species of penguin have also been known to prey on seabirds or squid when hunting for food. Little penguins take small fish close to shore, and chicks are fed whole fish brought back by both parents.
Due to the challenges of foraging for food in the frigid waters of Antarctica, penguins there have evolved various hunting strategies to help them find and capture prey. Some species, such as Adélie penguins, will dive deep into the ocean to catch fish, while others, like gentoo penguins, will swim along the surface and use their powerful beaks to catch krill or other small animals.
Where Do Penguins Live?
Penguins are found in the waters of Antarctica and along cooler and temperate coasts across the Southern Hemisphere. Most species live in colonies along coastal areas, where they build nests, breed, and raise their young.
However, some species do migrate to different parts of the world during certain times of year, such as emperor penguins, which travel long distances over the ice to find food.
The St Kilda colony was never planned: the penguins moved into the cavities of a rubble-stone rock wall built in 1955 as part of the upgrade to St Kilda Pier, and it is the only mainland breeding colony of little penguins in Victoria that sits inside a major city, about 7km from Melbourne’s CBD.
Penguins living in the harsh conditions of Antarctica have developed various adaptations that allow them to survive in these extreme environments.
Their thick waterproof feathers help keep them warm and dry in frigid waters, while their large size and powerful flippers enable them to swim through the ocean with ease.
Are penguins Friendly with Humans?
It’s hard not to be charmed by a penguin. With their tuxedo-like plumage and waddling walk, they seem like creatures straight out of a cartoon.
And indeed, many people feel a special connection to penguins, perhaps because they are some of the most human-like animals in the bird world.
Penguins are social creatures that form close bonds with their mates and raise their chicks together. Little penguins usually keep the same mate from season to season and reuse the same nest cavity. They also have a well-developed sense of hearing and can recognise individual voices, which makes them seem particularly responsive to humans.
In reality, however, penguins are wild animals and should be treated with caution and respect. If you approach a penguin too quickly or make loud noises, you may startle it, and it could react aggressively in defence.
The best way to enjoy penguins is from a distance, where you can appreciate their antics without disturbing them. At St Kilda that means watching from the 150-metre elevated boardwalk at the end of St Kilda Pier during the free but ticketed one-hour sessions run by Phillip Island Nature Parks — two each evening, 150 people each, bookings essential. No flash, torches or bright lights.
What are penguins afraid of?
Penguins are often portrayed as comical and fearless creatures, but the truth is that they have a lot to be afraid of. For one thing, penguins are natural prey for many predators, including seals, orcas, and sharks.
They also face the threat of being caught in fishing nets or becoming entangled in plastic pollution. And then there are the dangers posed by climate change, which include shrinking ice sheets, rising sea levels, and declining food sources.
A city colony carries its own risks: off-leash dogs, fishing-line entanglement, boat strike, artificial light that disrupts the night return, and predators such as foxes and cats. If you find a penguin that is sick, injured or tangled, don’t try to catch it or cut the line yourself — call the Zoos Victoria Marine Response Unit on 1300 245 678, and see our entanglement guide.
Despite all these threats, penguins continue to thrive in many parts of the world. Thanks to their adaptability, and to careful management of the places they breed, they can keep doing so for many years to come.
Some Facts About Penguins
All penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere
The Southern Hemisphere is home to all 18 penguin species. Only the Galapagos penguin crosses the equator to go fishing in the Northern Hemisphere, making it unique among penguins.
However, the emperor penguin lives its whole life in and near Antarctica, the coldest and most southern part of the world.
Penguin Sizes Range From 30cm – 1.3m
Little penguins (Eudyptula minor, also known historically as fairy penguins) are the smallest member of the penguin family, often standing little more than 30 centimetres tall and weighing about 1 kilogram.
Emperor penguins, which may reach heights of 1.1 to 1.3 meters and weigh up to 40 kilograms at the beginning of the mating season, are the biggest and heaviest species of penguin in existence.
Millions of Years Ago, Giant Penguins Ruled the Earth
It’s possible that the forebears of today’s penguins were over 100 kilograms in weight and over 2 meters in height. Skeletal remains unearthed in Antarctica point to the existence of massive penguins some 37 million years ago. They are long extinct, and known to us only from their bones.
Penguins Keep Warm in a Variety of Ways
Penguins have earned a name for themselves for their resilience in the face of extreme environments. They have great insulation because of their plump feathers and fat stores. The oil produced by the penguin’s preen gland is used to insulate the bird and increase its swimming speed.
The emperor penguin, however, has perfected this skill. For protection from the cold, emperors developed two sets of feathers for their torso and legs, as well as other, more diminutive adaptations like flippers and beaks.
Fats on their feet help keep them from being cold, too. During the harsh Antarctic winters, the males are known to create enormous, constantly shifting huddles, where they cooperate together to keep warm and protect their precious eggs.
Conclusion
If you’re interested in helping to care for penguins, there are a number of things you can do to make a positive difference. The first step is to learn as much as you can about these amazing animals, including their physical characteristics and behavioural patterns.
At St Kilda, volunteers carry out population counts and the weighing and banding of the colony. There are plenty of ways to help, from keeping your dog on a lead on the pier to taking your rubbish home.
Read fun facts: Can Guinea Pigs Eat Candy?
Additionally, you can donate money or supplies to organisations that help to rescue and rehabilitate injured penguins in the wild. By taking these steps, you can help ensure the long-term health and well-being of penguins around the world.
