Well adapted to an aquatic life, penguins are flightless birds. They predominantly live in the southern hemisphere. These birds spend half their lives in water and the other half on land. They feed on fish, squids and other aquatic forms of life. They swim in order to catch their prey. Their bodies are well adapted for this purpose. The biggest penguin is about 3 ft 7 inches tall and with the smallest species one will be only 16 inches tall.
Penguins are very good swimmers. When they swim in water it appears as if they are flying in the air. They keep afloat with the layer of air trapped inside their feathers. That also serves as the insulation when the birds are in cold water of the Antarctic. They are well adapted to protect themselves from predators with their black wings and the backs as well as their white bellies.
When penguins dive into water in search of prey, the smaller ones stay near the surface. They spend only around 2 minutes under water. However, a large one could dive as deep as 565 meters and they are able to spend 22 minutes under water at a stretch. These birds have good hearing which they use for locating their chicks. When it comes to eye sight, they are able to see well in water. With their good eye sight they find prey and avoid predators.
In order to maintain body temperature penguins are able to control their blood flow. Also, they huddle together to keep warm some times. They are so well organized that each member of the pack gets a chance to be in the center of the pack for some time. When it is very cold, it is the females that go looking for food while males stay away from water.
Penguins are monogamous birds. During the mating season they make pairs. Most species lay two eggs and the male and the female take turns in incubating the eggs. While one is incubating the eggs the other will go in search of food. The only exception is the Emperor penguin in which case the male does the incubation alone.
Penguins are not scared of humans but they normally will not come closer than 3 meters. It could be because they never need to worry about land predators. They are more vulnerable when they are in water as predators such as tiger seals often attack them.
Penguin is a flightless bird that is well adapted to live in the cold Antarctic regions. They live in flocks and feed on fish. Also, they are highly social birds.
Penguins are very good swimmers. When they swim in water it appears as if they are flying in the air. They keep afloat with the layer of air trapped inside their feathers. That also serves as the insulation when the birds are in cold water of the Antarctic. They are well adapted to protect themselves from predators with their black wings and the backs as well as their white bellies.
When penguins dive into water in search of prey, the smaller ones stay near the surface. They spend only around 2 minutes under water. However, a large one could dive as deep as 565 meters and they are able to spend 22 minutes under water at a stretch. These birds have good hearing which they use for locating their chicks. When it comes to eye sight, they are able to see well in water. With their good eye sight they find prey and avoid predators.
In order to maintain body temperature penguins are able to control their blood flow. Also, they huddle together to keep warm some times. They are so well organized that each member of the pack gets a chance to be in the center of the pack for some time. When it is very cold, it is the females that go looking for food while males stay away from water.
Penguins are monogamous birds. During the mating season they make pairs. Most species lay two eggs and the male and the female take turns in incubating the eggs. While one is incubating the eggs the other will go in search of food. The only exception is the Emperor penguin in which case the male does the incubation alone.
Penguins are not scared of humans but they normally will not come closer than 3 meters. It could be because they never need to worry about land predators. They are more vulnerable when they are in water as predators such as tiger seals often attack them.
Penguin is a flightless bird that is well adapted to live in the cold Antarctic regions. They live in flocks and feed on fish. Also, they are highly social birds.
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