A pair of South Georgia king penguins, Aptenodytes patagonicus patagonicus, show off their brilliant plumage. King penguins have four layers of feathers and huddle together for warmth.
12 Penguin Portraits Show Personality
Celebrate Penguin Awareness Day, January 20, with stunning pictures of these beloved birds.
With their charismatic nature, signature tuxedo look, and unique mating rituals, penguins are among Earth's most beloved creatures.
The 18 species differ greatly in size, from the four-foot-tall emperor penguins, regal birds native to the rugged coastlines of Antarctica, to the little blue penguin of southern Australia and New Zealand, which grow to just 13 inches tall. (See "On World Penguin Day, Could There Be a More Adorable Bird?")
Many penguins thrive in harsh climates, such as the Adélie, which has survived in Antarctica for nearly 45,000 years. Flightless and aquatic, penguins live almost entirely in the Southern Hemipshere, where they chase after small prey with expert diving and swimming skills.
Penguins are known for their remarkable relationship habits—for instance,
