Diet & Feeding

How do penguins catch their food?

Penguins are pursuit divers — they chase and catch prey underwater using their powerful flippers for propulsion. Their streamlined bodies and dense bones reduce buoyancy, allowing them to dive efficiently. Penguins have excellent underwater vision and can spot prey in dim conditions. Many species hunt cooperatively, herding schools of fish into tight balls before picking them off. Emperor penguins can dive to depths exceeding 500 meters, while most species forage within the top 20 to 60 meters of the water column. Hunting trips can range from short nearshore forays to multi-day journeys hundreds of kilometers from the colony.