| Penguins are a group of flightless birds found only | | | | penguins will mate for life, while others for just |
| in the southern hemisphere. They are of the | | | | one season. Penguin parents usually cooperate in |
| order Sphenisciformes and the family | | | | taking care of their baby penguins. But it is mostly |
| Spheniscidae. There are seventeen species of | | | | the task of the male penguin to incubate the egg |
| penguins in the world, the largest of which is the | | | | until it is hatched. It is amazing how penguins take |
| Empire penguin, which stands at an average height | | | | care of their offspring in the extreme cold and |
| of 3 feet and 9 inches. Most people think that | | | | harshness of their habitat. Baby penguins are |
| penguins live only in the coldest places on Earth | | | | hatched covered with a grayish down that |
| like Antarctica, but penguins also live in the tropics. | | | | protects the chicks from the cold. |
| A species of penguins live in the Galapagos Islands | | | | Throughout the nesting period, baby penguins are |
| near the equator. | | | | confined to the burrow or nest where they are |
| Penguins are some of the most familiar animals in | | | | fed by their parents. When baby penguins reach |
| the planet, although most people have never seen | | | | the age where they don't need constant care |
| a penguin in the wild. But most people recognize | | | | from their parents, they are often grouped in |
| penguins because of the distinct and easily | | | | nurseries where they wait while their parents hunt |
| identifiable black-and-white plumage that all | | | | for food. One amazing trait of both parent and |
| penguins have. Penguins, in their natural habitat, | | | | baby penguins is that they recognize each other |
| are extremely adapted to the aquatic life. The | | | | even in the midst of hundreds of penguins. Once |
| sea is their main source of food, which consists of | | | | the baby penguin sheds its downy feathers and |
| fish and small crustaceans called krill. | | | | gets its plumage, it can then start to fend for |
| Penguins have a peculiar mating habit; some | | | | himself. |