I turned 40 years old this year and, to celebrate, hubs and I decided on this trip to Antarctica to see penguins in the wild. (Yes, I realize wild penguins also live elsewhere but, c'mon - these are official Antarctic penguins).
Ever since I started researching this trip, I have had a website open on my phone called, "The Eight Great Penguin Species of Antarctica." Here are highlights from the article on four of those types of penguins.
1. Emperors
Emperor penguins are the largest - and I'd wager, probably the most recognizable of all the Antarctic penguins, thanks to Morgan Freeman and March of the Penguins. They form large colonies on the sea ice and are found mainly in the Ross Sea and Weddell regions, especially Snow Hill Island. Based on where we are headed, this sadly means we won't get to see any Emperors on our trip. Boourns. (Hey, Antarctica is a BIG place. What can ya do?)
2. Adélies
The most widely distributed penguin species in the world, Adélies are found on the northerly Antarctic pack ice during the winter and in the summer return to the continental coastline and Antarctic islands. These are small and fiesty, no-holds-barred penguins who aren't afraid to pick fights (see video below). Hoping to see a lot of these guys on our trip.
3. Gentoos
As adults, gentoos are the third largest penguin behind emperors and kings. They build nests on beaches and in grass tussocks and are highly aggressive in defending their turf. Gentoo penguins live about 15-20 years and are one of the fastest-swimming birds, reaching speeds up to 36 kph (22 mph). So speedy!
4. Chinstraps
Why are they called "chinstraps"? Just look at their facial markings! With roughly seven million pairs of chinstrap penguins in the world, these penguins are one of the most abundant. They are also an aggressive species, often getting into fights with other penguins. (Hm, sensing a theme. Maybe all penguins are jerks?)
Want to know about the other four Antarctic species of penguins? I'll post about them next time.
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