Facts about penguins
King penguin group, Macquarie Island
Features of penguins
- Although the penguin's ancestors were flying birds, penguins do not have this skill and they instead use their paddle-like wings (flippers) to propel themselves through the water.
- Penguin wing bones are solid, unlike flying birds' wings which are hollow to save weight.
- Penguins dive to catch food, including fish, krill (tiny shrimp-like creatures), squid and a wide range of marine invertebrates. The emperor penguin holds the diving record at 450 metres deep and 11 minutes underwater.
- Penguins feed their young by storing fish in their stomach and regurgitating it. This means adults not only have to catch enough fish for themselves; they also must slow the digestion process to ensure that their chicks get a meal once they arrive home.
- Unlike flying birds, which moult and replace their feathers gradually so that they can continue to fly, penguins moult all of their feathers at once. This enables them to go back out to sea without 'leaks' in their waterproof insulation. Moulting is a stressful time for penguins, and during this two to five week period in late summer birds may look sick and ragged.
Species in New Zealand
Thirteen of the world's 18 penguin species have been recorded in the New Zealand region (including the Ross Dependency). Nine of these species breed here.
Three penguin species breed on the New Zealand mainland:
These species breed alone or in small groups, unlike their Antarctic relatives that gather in large colonies.
back to top
Contacts
DOC HOTline - 24 hour emergency number
Phone 0800 DOC HOTline (0800 362 468) to report:
Sick or injured wildlife
Whale or dolphin strandings