1. There are 17 species of penguin each slightly different.
Penguin Species
There are 17 species of penguin
each slightly different.

2. List of the 17 species Adelie 11. Little or Blue African 12. Macaroni
Chinstrap Magellanic
Emperor Rockhopper
Erect Crested Royal
Fiordland Snares Island
Galapagos Yellow-eyed
Gentoo
Humboldt
King

3. Adelie Penguins Height: 2 ½ feet Weight: 8 to 14 pounds
Habitat: Adelie penguins live along the coast of Antarctica. During the winter they live at sea on pack ice. In the summer they go to the rookery and build nests along the coast.
Diet: krill
Enemies: skua gulls
Physical Description:
White fronts and black backs
Long tails
Black heads
Black eyes with white rings around them
Black beaks
Adelies build their nests on hill with small stones found on the rocky
beaches of Antarctica. There aren’t many stones so the penguin
jealously guard their nests and often fight over the best rocks.
After the nest is made the female lays 2 green eggs. Then she goes to
sea to eat while the male incubates the eggs. When the eggs hatch
and the chicks are too big for the skuas to eat, the chicks gather into
creches. At 8 weeks the chicks are own their own. They have to go to
the sea to find food. Many chicks are eaten by leopard seals when
they go into the water for the first time.
There are over 2.5 million breeding pairs of Adelie penguins living in
Antarctica. They live in groups of about 10,000 birds.
Adelie Penguins

4. Height: 27 inches Weight: 10 pounds
African Penguins
Height: 27 inches Weight: 10 pounds
Habitat: southern shores of South Africa
Eggs: eggs incubated by both parents
Diet: fish and krill
Enemies: Hyenas
Interesting facts:
Also known as the Blackfoot penguin
Makes a sound like a donkey
African penguins have one black upside down U-shape on their neck. They have black speckles
on their chest and a wide white stripe on their faces. They do not have feathers on their forehead.
African penguins build nests in underground burrows. They dig the burrows in the sand with their
beaks. The female lays 2 eggs two times a year. The parents take turns protecting and feeding
the chicks. The chicks do not form creches. When the chicks are about 80 days old they go to sea
to feed.
African penguins live and breed on the coast of South Africa. There are only about one million to
150, 000 African penguins left due to people hunting these penguins. They are now a protected
species but are still caused trouble by oil spills off the coast of Africa.

5. Chinstrap Penguin Height: 28 inches Weight: 8 to 14 pounds
Habitat: Antarctic peninsula and
nearby islands
Eggs: 2 eggs incubated by both
parents
Diet: mostly krill, sometimes fish
Enemies: Skua gulls
Interesting facts:
There are more Chinstrap penguins
than any other kind of penguin.
“Ringed penguin” and “Bearded
penguin” are other names for the
chinstrap penguin.
Chinstrap penguins are the most common penguins with a population of about
13 million. They get their name from the small black band that runs under their chin.
They often live on large icebergs on the open ocean in the Antarctic region.
Chinstrap rookeries are large. Some have millions of penguins. Chinstrap penguins
build circle nests of stones on steep hills. The female lays 2 eggs and are incubated by both parents. They hatch after about 35 days. The chicks are gray. They stay in the nests for 20 to 30 days before joining creches. The chicks go to sea when they are about 60 days old.
Chinstrap penguins are very bold and will fight to keep other penguins and enemies away from their nests. They have a shrill call.

6. Emperor penguins are the largest penguin species
Emperor penguins are the largest penguin species. They are nearly 4 feet tall and weigh up to 90 pounds. They are easily identifiable by their size and the orange “glow” on their cheeks.
Emperor penguins live year round in the Antarctic. Temperatures can fall as low as minus degrees Fahrenheit. Most penguin species lay two eggs at a time. Emperor penguins lay only one egg due to the difficulty of raising chicks in such a harsh climate.
Most penguin species take turns warming the egg, but it’s up to the Emperor penguin dads to do all the work once the egg is laid. The male stands with the egg on his feet under a brood pouch ( for warmth ). He does this for up to 9 weeks, without food, waiting for the chick to hatch. During this time, the male may lose up to half its body weight. Once the egg hatches, the female returns and the male heads out to the ocean to feed.

7. Erect-Crested Penguins
Height: inches
Weight: to 10 pounds
Where it lives: Sub Antarctic Islands
Eggs: eggs laid: only 1 is incubated by both parents
Physical Description:
Erect-crested penguins are 26 inches tall and weigh about 10 pounds. Their crests are short, stiff, and yellow.
Nests, eggs, and chicks:
Erect-crested penguins build nests on very high, rocky hills. Nests
are built from pebbles or twigs. The penguins may spend a whole month fighting and nest building, before laying eggs. Two eggs are laid. Only one egg will hatch into a chick. Males and females take turns incubating the egg and eating. When the chick hatches, the male does not eat. His job is to protect the chick from the cold and enemies. The females bring food to the chicks, but not to the males. When the chicks leave their nests and form creches, both of the parents gather food. At 10 weeks old the chicks are ready to be on their own and they go to sea for food.
Diet: Squid and krill
Enemies: Skua gulls like to eat penguin eggs and chicks.
Interesting facts:
* The penguins who are too young to have chicks, hang around
and get in the way at the rookery. They are called
“hoodlums.”
* Erect-crested penguins are said to be the blackest of all the
penguins.
* They will attack humans who get too close.
Erect-Crested Penguins

8. Fiordland Penguin Height: 22 inches Weight: 6 to 7 pounds
Habitat: Southern New Zealand and
nearby islands
Physical Description:
Yellow bushy crests
The skin around their beaks is dark and their cheeks are lightly striped
Diet: fish and squid
Enemies: Dogs, cats, stoats and ferrets
Nests, eggs, and chicks:
The female lays 2 eggs. Both of the eggs will
hatch but the smaller chick usually dies. The
parents take turns keeping the eggs warm and
eating. When the chicks hatch, the males
don’t eat but protect the chicks from the cold
and enemies. The females bring food back for
the chicks. When the chicks are old enough
they form creches. The chicks are on their
own when they are 10 weeks old.
Fiordland Penguin

9. Galapagos Penguins
Penguins do not live in the wild in any location in the
Northern Hemisphere. The northern most colony of
penguins are located in the Galapagos Islands.
The Galapagos penguins live on the Galapagos Islands
and live farther north than any other penguin. They can
survive close to the equator because the Humboldt
current brings cold water to the islands from the
Antarctic.
Height: 21 inches Weight: 4 to 6 pounds Habitat: Galapagos Islands
Eggs: 2 eggs incubated by both parents Diet: Fish and squid
Physical Description: Galapagos penguins are the second smallest species of penguins. They are 21 inches tall and weigh about 6 pounds. They have two black chest bands. They do not have feathers around their eyes. Their beaks are thin and long.
Nests, eggs, and chicks: Galapagos penguins do not form rookeries. They build nests in holes in the lava rock. The female lays 2 eggs, but only one will hatch. The males and the females incubate the eggs. After 40 days the eggs will hatch. The parents take turns protecting and feeding the chicks. When the chicks are about 60 days old they go to the sea to feed.
Enemies: The Galapagos penguin is an endangered species. They are hunted by orcas and skua gulls.
Interesting facts: They live with land crabs and marine iguanas.

10. Gentoo Penguins Gentoo penguins are the third largest of the
penguins. They have large, white spots over their eyes
and a white stripe across the top of their head. They
have red beaks and orange feet.
Gentoo penguins live on the Antarctic peninsula and
the sub Antarctic islands. They stay near their rookeries all
year long. Their rookeries are on flat ground and are
about a mile away from the water.
Gentoo penguins build their nests with rocks, twigs, old
bones, and feathers. Sometimes they steal things from
each other to build their nests. Gentoos like to build their
nests on top of small plants or near small bushes.
Females lay 2 or 3 eggs. Both parents incubate the eggs.
After the chicks hatch, the parents are very busy feeding
the chicks. The chicks are on their own after 8 weeks.
Gentoo penguins are the fastest swimming penguins. They
are very shy.
Height: 32 inches
Weight: pounds
Habitat:
Antarctic peninsula and sub Antarctic islands
Diet:
mostly krill but sometimes fish
Enemies: skua gulls

11. Humboldt Penguins Interesting Facts:
Height: inches Weight: 10 pounds
Habitat: the coasts of Peru, Chile, and nearby
islands
Eggs: 2 eggs incubated by both parents
Physical Description:
* splotchy pink patches on their face and feet
( These pink patches are bare skin… not feathers.)
*black band of feathers across its chest
Nests, eggs, and chicks:
Humboldt penguins build their nests in seabird
guano ( poop). The female lays 2 eggs. Sometimes
both eggs will hatch. The life cycle of the Humboldt
penguins has not been well studied.
Diet: anchovies and sardines
Enemies:
The Humboldt penguin is endangered. There are
about 10, 000 nesting pairs left. Humans take them
for food and also take their eggs from breeding sites.
Fisherman catch many anchovies so there are not
enough left for the Humboldt penguins to eat. Their
nesting places have also been destroyed.
Interesting Facts:
Named after Alexander von Humboldt who was an explorer who first described this penguin to the scientific community.

12. King Penguin Height: 3 feet Weight: 30 to 45 pounds
Habitat: The islands of the sub Antarctic; South
Georgia and Prince Edward islands
Diet: mostly fish; but sometimes they eat squid and krill
Enemies: skua gulls
Nests, eggs, and chicks:
King penguins lay eggs in rookeries along the shore.
They lay eggs 2 times every 3 years. The female
lays one egg that is incubated on the parent’s feet in
the brood pouch. After it hatches both parents
take turns caring for and feeding the chick. The
chicks stay with the parents for 30 to 40 days until
they are large enough to join creches. The chicks go
to sea when they are about 10 months old.
Physical Description:
King penguins look like they are wearing bright orange
collars
Very long orange beaks
King penguin chicks have
Interesting facts:
* King pengui ns are the second largest penguin.
They were once hunted for their oil.
The down on the King penguin chick is very thick and
long. Sometimes they are called “wooly penguins.”
King Penguin

13. Little Blue Fairy Penguins
Height: 14 to 15 inches
Weight: 2 to 4 pounds
Habitat: Southern Australia and New Zealand
Physical Description:
Gray-blue with white bellies
They look like they are wearing blue tuxedos.
Enemies:
Dogs, cats, rats, ferrets, large lizards, snakes
Fisherman ( kill to use for bait in lobster traps )
Diet: fish, squid, krill
Interesting facts:
It is against the law to kill a fairy penguin.
They are the smallest penguins.
Sometimes they nest under houses and bother the people at night with all their noise.
Sounds made by fairy penguins:
barking, growling, hissing, mooing, quacking,
screaming, sneezing, meowing like cats
Fish in the day and come to land at night
Fairy penguins are good climbers. They use
their beaks, wings, and feet to climb up tall
cliffs.
Nests: build nests in holes in rocks or under thick plants; if the ground is soft Fairy penguins will build burrows.
Eggs: The female lays 2 eggs. Both parents keep the eggs warm. After the eggs hatch, one parent always stays with the chicks. After 3 weeks the chicks are left alone in the burrow. The parents come back at night to feed them. The chicks are on their own when they are eight weeks old.

14. Macaroni Penguin “Macaroni” used to be a hairstyle in England.
(Did you ever wonder why Yankee Doodle called
the feather in his cap, “Macaroni”? Now you know!)
The Macaroni penguins were so named because the
yellow and black feathers sticking out of the side of
their heads looked like the English hairstyle.
Macaroni penguins build their nests with pebbles or
Twigs on very high hills. They do not like for their nests
to be bothered. Sometimes they spend a month
fighting and nest building before laying eggs.
Macaroni penguins lay 2 eggs. The first one is smaller
than the second egg and most of the time doesn’t
hatch. The parents push it out of the nest after the
second egg is laid. Males and females take turns
incubating the eggs and eating. The chicks hatch in
about 5 weeks. When the chicks leave the nests, they
form creches. At about 10 weeks the chicks go to sea
for food.
Macaroni Penguin
Height: inches
Weight: 10 to 15 pounds
Habitat: sub Antarctic
Diet: krill and squid
Enemies: skua gulls
Physical characteristics:
long, drooping orange crest that hangs down the sides
red eyes
orange beak

15. Magellanic Penguins Height: 28 inches Weight: 6 to 15 pounds Habitat:
Argentina, Southern Chile, and the Falkland islands
Diet: squid and small fish
Enemies: orcas and skua gulls
Physical characteristics:
black backs and white bellies
rings around their faces and
chests
Interesting facts:
Magellanic penguins can bray,
moo and cackle
They are shy. If a person comes
too close, they will run into the
water or hide in their burrows
Magellanic penguins spend April through
August at sea and September through
March at their rookeries.
Magellanic penguins make their nests by
the sea. They dig burrows in the clay
and sand. They also make nests in holes
under bushes.
The female lays 2 eggs. The parents take
turns incubating the eggs. Sometimes
both eggs hatch. The parents take turns
protecting and feeding the chicks. The
chicks do not form creches. They go to
sea when they are 70 days old.

16. Rockhopper Penguins
The Rockhopper gets its name because it hops up and down steep slopes and from rock to rock to get to its nest. They keep both feet together when hopping. Using this method, they are able to hop up to four or five feet using this method.
Height: inches
Weight: to 10 pounds
Habitat: Sub Antarctic islands
They stay at sea half of the year. Then they come together in huge rookeries.
Diet: fish, squid, krill
Enemies: skua gulls
Physical characteristics:
Smallest of the crested penguins
long and droopy yellow crest
no stripe on the forehead
red beaks, red eyes, and yellow eyebrows
Nests: build on very high rocky hills from pebbles or twigs
Eggs: Females lay 2 eggs but only one will hatch.

17. Royal Penguins Height: 28 inches Weight 9 – 16 pounds
Habitat: Macquarie Island
Diet: fish, squid, krill
Enemies:
Humans hunt Royal penguins for their feathers, skins, and oil. Skua gulls like to eat penguin eggs and chicks.
Physical Description:
The crest of the Royal penguin is orange. The crest hangs down the sides and is long and drooping. The chin and the side of the head are always white. There is a thick stripe of orange on the forehead.
Nests, eggs, and chicks:
Royal penguins build their nests on very
high rocky hills. The nests are built from
pebbles or twigs. Royal penguins lay 2
eggs but only one will hatch into a chick.
Males and females take turns incubating the
eggs and eating. The chicks form creches
when they are old enough to leave the nest.
At 10 weeks the chicks are on their own and
go to sea for food.
Royal Penguins

18. Snares Island Penguin Height: 22 inches Weight: 6 to 7 pounds
Habitat: Snares Island and surrounding islands
Physical Description:
yellow bushy crest with light skin around the beak
Diet: fish, squid, and krill
Enemies: sea lions and leopard seals ( Skuas eat eggs and chicks.)
Snares Island Penguin
Snares Island penguins live on Snares Island and the surrounding islands. They stay at sea half of the year. Then they
come together in very big rookeries. There are millions in just one rookery with a lot of fighting because it is so
crowded.
Snare Island penguins build nests on very high, rocky hills. They also build nests in forests. Nests are built from twigs
or pebbles. The penguins may spend a whole month fighting and nest building before laying two eggs. Only one egg
will hatch into a chick. Males and females take turns incubating the chick and eating. After the chick hatches the job
of the male is to protect the chick from the cold and enemies. The females bring food to the chicks but not to the
males. When the chicks leave their nests and form creches, both of the parents gather food. At 10 weeks old the
chicks are ready to be on their own and go to sea for food.
Interesting facts:
Snares will attack humans who get too close. The female and male stay together for their whole life.

19. Yellow-eyed Penguins Height: 24 inches Weight: 13 pounds
Diet: Fish and Squid
Habitat: the coastal forests of New Zealand and nearby southern islands
Enemies:
at sea ( sharks and seals ) The greatest threat on land is the loss of habitat.
Nests:
Yellow-eyed penguins make their nests on the forest floor in shallow bowls lined with grasses and twigs.
Physical Description:
Golden feathers which form a crest on
their heads
Bright yellow stripe running to the eye and
around the back of the head
Slate-gray-blue-black in color with a white
breast and belly
Flesh colored feet
Thick reddish purple beaks
Yellow-eyed Penguins
Interesting facts:
*The rarest of all penguins
*Solitary breeders ( least social of all penguins)
* 20 year life span
* Maintain the largest territory of any
penguins
* Females lay 2 eggs which both
hatch and usually survive.
*Amazing underwater swimmers
*Can dive to depths of 400 feet
* can hold their breath for 4 minutes