Penguins have more feathers per square inch then any other bird on earth.The feathers are small and fit together very tightly making them look smooth like fur. Check out the Anatomy Page for more information.

Penguins lose all their feathers once per year during the molt. They do this to replace the worn out feathers.

The yellow feathers, or crests, distinguish Rockhoppers from other penguin species and allow them to recognize their own species especially while at sea. The crests are also used by nesting penguins to attract a mate. While shaking their heads rapidly the crests whirl around and are very attractive to the opposite sex.

Feathers are structurally different and therefore functionally different than down. Feathers are two dimensional and have a shaft. While the structure of down provides for greater lofting and insulating value, the structure of feathers provide for greater support. Feathers still have a soft natural fluffy feeling while having a spring-like quality to provide resilience and support. Feathers are ideal for cushions in featherbeds, and for those who prefer firmer pillows.

Feathers and down are commercially obtained from ducks and geese which are primarily raised for their meat. Thus the feathers become a byproduct from the processing of the fowl.

All penguins come from the Southern Hemisphere and they live in places ranging from the Galapagos Islands to the coast of Antarctica.

Penguins sleep on land and while floating at sea. On land they can sleep lying down or standing up sometimes with their head tucked below on wing. Check out the Behaviors Page for more information.

Penguins have good vision both above and below the water. This is due to their ability to alter the shape of the lens of the eye to accommodate both environments. Check out the Anatomy Page for more information.

Of the 17 species of penguins in the world 3 species are endangered and 9 others are threatened. A major threat to penguins are human interference and particularly oil spils (see inset photo). Check out the individual world penguins species pages on this site for more information.

Yes, a penguin's leg is composed of a short femur, knee, tibia and fibula. The upper leg bones are not visible as they are covered in feathers giving penguins a very short legged appearance. Check out the Anatomy Page for more information.

No. A penguin's beak has sharp edges and is hooked to trap wriggling fish. The tongue and roof of the beak is lined with flexible, downward pointing spines which hold on to their slippery food. Check out the Anatomy Page for more information.

Yes. The ears are located on the sides of the head in the same location as ours but cannot be seen as the ears are covered by the penguins dense feathers. A penguins ear has no lobes it is just a simple hole.

Penguins have a streamlined body for life at sea with their legs placed at the rear of their bodies. On land this gives the penguin an upright stance and their characteristic waddle. Check out the Anatomy Page for more information.

It appears that some species do migrate from their breeding colonies to locations of abundant food supply following the breeding season.Both Rockhopper and Magellanic penguins migrate.

Usually mates will greet each other in several ways such as the ecstatic display, bowing and quivering. The mutual ecstatic display involves the pair facing each other and bowing and then pointing their bills to the sky and braying or trumpeting together. Check out the Behaviors Page for more information.

A.The penguins at the Aquarium eat fish. Some of the types of fish they eat are capelin, anchovy, herring, smelt and sardines.

The penguins are not pets. We do however handle the penguins during veterinary exams and for other husbandry needs.

Yes. During the breeding season penguins will aggressively defend their nesting sites and even during the off season each bird can usually be found in the same spot within the exhibit.

Our penguins are not pets. They have become accustomed to the staff people but are not tame and can be unpredictable.

If you would like to volunteer with the penguin department and are 18 or older you can apply with the volunteer office.

It depends. If you have other pets that might attack or play with your bird (dogs or cats), it is probably safer if your bird can fly. The risks of having a flighted bird are that they can fly through open doors and windows and escape; they can be confused by large picture windows and try to fly through them; and they can fly around the house and chew on houseplants, furniture, or window frames. For these reasons, flighted birds should be supervised whenever they are let out of their cages.

To our knowledge there are no studies concerning UV-B effects on penguins. As their eyes are exposed to a lot of UV due to the high reflectivity of snow and a marked enhancement during the ozone hole, investigation into the impact on penguins is desirable. The fact that penguins are visual predators, eating krill or fish in the water column, would make any eye damage an important issue for survival.

No. This flightless, aquatic bird is native to the Southern Circumpolar Region, only a short 10,000 miles to the south.

That depends on the size of the penguin. The larger species such as the Emperors and Kings can get up to a maximum of 9mph but usually swim at a more leisurely 7mph. The medium sized penguins such as our Rockhopper and Africans travel about 5-6mph. The smallest penguins such as our little blues travel at about 1mph but can get up to 5mph in short bursts.

The larger species can hold their breath longer then the smaller species. Emperors have been recorded at depths of over 1700ft for 18 minutes while little blue penguins can dive to over 200ft for about 1 minute.

This coloration is called counter-shading and it is used to camouflage a penguin in the water .From below a penguin's white belly blends into the bright surface of the ocean while from above a penguin's dark back disappears into the inky blackness of the ocean below. This camouflage is crucial in avoiding predators and catching prey.

Penguin feathers offer great insulation as they overlap like the shingles on a roof making them virtually waterproof.Penguins also have a thick layer of blubber below the feathers which together provide a protective envelope.

Penguin chicks are covered in a light down (protoptile plumage) when hatched and soon replace this with a thicker down (mesoptile plumage). The down of a penguin chick can be grey, black, or brown depending on the species. Check out the Chick Page for more information.