Penguin facts for kids
Penguins huddle in a giant cuddle to stay warm, taking turns in the middle.
Wildlife · Icy shores and cold seas
- Feelings
- Penguin pairs greet each other with loud, happy calls and bows after time apart.
- Clever thinking
- They navigate hundreds of kilometres of ocean and find their way back to the same colony.
- Friendships
- Many penguins return to the same partner each year and share chick-sitting duties.
- How they talk
- Every penguin has a unique call so families recognise each other in a noisy crowd.
- Babies
- Emperor dads balance the egg on their feet for two months in winter storms.
- Superpower
- Flying underwater — their wings are flippers that push them through the sea.
Did you know?
- Penguins take turns in the warm middle of the huddle.
- Gentoo penguins give pebbles to their partners.
- Emperor penguins can dive deeper than 500 metres.
Quick answers
Do penguins have feelings?
Penguin pairs greet each other with loud, happy calls and bows after time apart.
How smart are penguins?
They navigate hundreds of kilometres of ocean and find their way back to the same colony.
Do penguins have friends?
Many penguins return to the same partner each year and share chick-sitting duties.
How do penguins talk to each other?
Every penguin has a unique call so families recognise each other in a noisy crowd.
What is the superpower of penguins?
Flying underwater — their wings are flippers that push them through the sea.
Facts are based on published animal-behaviour research. Grown-ups can find sources on the Parents & Teachers page.