Penguins are the cute birds. With their black and white appearance and a natural innocence in their outlook they are loved by all the age groups. They are kept in zoos in freezing temperatures, to please the kids. Penguins can only survive in cold a place that is why they are seen only in few cold areas of the world.
1. They cannot fly
Though penguins are put into the category of bird, but they cannot fly. They have no wings that can help them to fly
2. Social creatures
Penguins are very social creatures. They adapt to other climates easily, if that climate suits them well.
3. Life span
The average life span of penguin is 15 to 20 years. Penguins live in colonies. These gathering or colonies are called rookeries.
4. Food and communication
Penguins eat fish, krill, and octopus. They communicate with each other through different vocalizations and body language.
5. They lay eggs
Penguins lay eggs. The number of laying eggs varies from specie to specie, but on average, they lay 1 to 2 eggs at time.
6. Species
There are as many as 17 species of penguins and there are as many as one hundred thousand penguins present in the world. Unlike other birds, penguins have no natural fear for humans; this is very interesting and amazing part of the nature of penguins.
7. Feathers
The baby penguins have very soft cotton like feathers when they are hatched. But he adult penguins have tightly bound feathers. These help them facing the deadly cold weathers. Their feathers are much denser than those of all other birds.
8. Male penguin hatch eggs
Penguins are not like many other birds that let their females hatch their eggs. In penguins, the male penguins hatch eggs buy putting then between their legs and moving here and there without changing the place of the eggs. The female penguins go for hunting.
9. Water proof feathers
The feathers of the penguins are not only tightly held but are water proof. Their body is insulated with thick layer of bladder.
10. Swimming
When penguins go into the water to find food, they leap out of it every few minutes. This helps them in two ways. They can breathe so that they can spend some time under water. And this also helps them in saving them from their predators. Their predators are sharks, killer whales and sea lions.