Penguin Species: 19 Profiles
A penguin can raise a chick on sea ice, nest beneath a forest, or hunt near the equator. Meet the different species and find out how they feed, breed, and live in such different places.
Penguin Species: 19 Profiles
Browse our species profiles by habitat, body size, diet, and conservation status.
Emperor Penguin
Aptenodytes forsteri
King Penguin
Aptenodytes patagonicus
Adelie Penguin
Pygoscelis adeliae
Chinstrap Penguin
Pygoscelis antarcticus
Gentoo Penguin
Pygoscelis papua
Little Blue Penguin
Eudyptula minor
Magellanic Penguin
Spheniscus magellanicus
Humboldt Penguin
Spheniscus humboldti
Galapagos Penguin
Spheniscus mendiculus
African Penguin
Spheniscus demersus
Yellow-eyed Penguin
Megadyptes antipodes
Fiordland Penguin
Eudyptes pachyrhynchus
Snares Penguin
Eudyptes robustus
Erect-crested Penguin
Eudyptes sclateri
Macaroni Penguin
Eudyptes chrysolophus
Royal Penguin
Eudyptes schlegeli
Western Rockhopper Penguin
Eudyptes chrysocome
Eastern Rockhopper Penguin
Eudyptes filholi
Northern Rockhopper Penguin
Eudyptes moseleyi
How penguins live
Follow the science behind a deep dive, a long winter fast, or the feathers that keep cold water out.
Conservation status
Where they live
What they eat
Puffin vs penguin: similar outfit, different bird
Puffins are not penguins. Both swim with their wings; puffins also use theirs to fly through the air.
Penguin Skeleton: What the Feathers Hide
See where the knees sit, what is inside a flipper, and how a penguin’s skeleton supports life on land and at sea.
Why Penguins Don't Freeze
How Emperor Penguins and their relatives conserve heat in freezing air and icy water through hidden down feathers, limb blood vessels, and huddling.
Did You Know?
Start with a surprising detail, then open the species profile to see how it fits into the bird’s life.
Emperor penguins can dive over 500 meters deep
Learn more about Emperor Penguin
Gentoo penguins have a broad white patch across their crown
Learn more about Gentoo Penguin
Little Blue Penguins measure about 33 cm long
Learn more about Little Blue Penguin
African Penguins can use belly-spot patterns to recognise individuals
Learn more about African Penguin
Nesting Chinstraps have been recorded taking thousands of four-second naps
Learn more about Chinstrap Penguin
Some Galapagos Penguin colonies lie just north of the equator
Learn more about Galapagos Penguin
Keep learning
Use the FAQ, glossary, and articles to look up unfamiliar terms and common questions.
Compare Any Two Species Side by Side
See how Emperor Penguins stack up against King Penguins, or compare any of the 19 species across reported size, weight, diet, habitat, and conservation pressure.
Penguin games
Take a break with browser games inspired by penguin movement and traits.