Diet & Feeding

What do penguins eat?

Penguins are carnivorous and primarily eat seafood. Their diet consists mainly of fish, krill (small shrimp-like crustaceans), and squid. The exact proportions vary by species and location. Antarctic species like Adelie and chinstrap penguins rely heavily on krill, while temperate species like the African and Magellanic penguins eat more fish such as sardines, anchovies, and pilchards. Emperor penguins eat a mix of fish, squid, and krill, diving to extraordinary depths to catch their prey. All penguins hunt by pursuit diving, catching prey underwater rather than from the surface.