Penguins By lynsie Errett

Penguins are so differentThere are 17 species

of penguins and none are exactly alike . Some have orange eyebrows , some have fluffy tails and some are aggressive or well mannered.

Penguins are different cont.The Pint sized penguin

is so fragile and shy. It only grows to a foot and a half and weighs under three pounds. The pint penguin is the smallest penguin. The Macaroni penguin has orange and yellow feathers. The Macaroni penguin has yellow eyebrows.

The Chinstrap penguin has a bushy tail. The Chinstrap stands a little bit over two feet tall. It also has a stripe across it’s chin. It’s nickname is probably loudmouth because it has an earsplitting call.

Warm BodiesPenguins are warm

blooded animals just like us. Their normal body temperature is 100 to 102 degrees. Ours is 98.6 degrees. Under their skin they have fat known as blubber. Covering their skin are fluffy feathers called down.

Feather CareOne square inch of

penguin is covered with about 70 feathers , all overlapping like fish scales. Penguins preen their feathers ,applying oil from an oil gland. The overlapping feathers and the oil create a waterproof, windproof suit.

Made To MoltFeathers don’t last

forever. Most birds replace tem by molting or shedding old feathers and growing new ones. Penguins need their feathers in the icy sea. Their feathers molt all at once and during that time usually as long as a month they stay out of the water.

The Mating GameIn the mating season,

all penguins head to land. Every species has it’s own territory and some may be very far away from their ocean home’s. But land is still surrounded by sea ice.

The love call is high drama in the rookeries when the mating game begins. Each male must attract a female. They do this by calling. They stand with their back arched their head raised and wings outstretched and a raise a wild trumpeting cry.

Baby PenguinsBeing born in Antarctica is

like beginning life in a freezer. When the chicks hatch they are helpless and cold. They have soft down feathers instead of sleek waterproof coats their parents have. The Emperor chick must stand on a parent’s feet not touching the ice for the first two months of it’s life or it will freeze.

Water WingsUnderwater they propel

themselves forward in a flying motion flapping their wings about two times a second just as the other birds do. No bird can dive like a penguin. A penguin will drop 70 feet just to catch a meal. Penguins can stay underwater for up to 18 minutes. Emperor penguins can jump 1200 feet below the surface of the water.

Thank you for Watching Credits : Pictures from

Clipart Information from the

book Penguins