14 Types Of Penguins (With Pictures!)

Discover the diverse world of penguins! Among the 18 recognized species, each one is unique despite their shared black and white coats and flightless nature. Found across the Southern Hemisphere, these utterly cute creatures vary in shape, size, and features.

In 2023, the IUCN listed five species as endangered, showing the varying conservation statuses. Let’s explore 14 of these sociable and charming species, each with its own distinct personality.

Types of Penguins

Let’s dive into the world of penguins and discover the unique and varied species that inhabit our planet’s Southern Hemisphere.

1. Emperor Penguin

Emperor penguins, the largest of the 18 penguin species, are only found in Antarctica. Standing about 120cm tall and weighing around 40kg, they are one of the largest birds.

Despite being the least common Antarctic penguin, with about 265,500–278,500 breeding pairs, Emperors are expertly adapted to survive the extreme cold, where temperatures can drop to -50°C with winds up to 200km/hr. They have two feather layers, a fat reserve, smaller beaks and flippers to keep warm, and even feathers on their legs.

Their feet have special fats to prevent freezing and strong claws for gripping ice. Emperor penguins are skilled divers, mainly feeding on Antarctic silverfish, other fish, krill, and some squid. They spend their lives in and around Antarctic ice, with rare sightings off New Zealand’s coast.

2. King Penguin

King Penguins, second only to the Emperor Penguin in size, are striking birds found in the Sub-Antarctic. They stand 70-100 cm tall and weigh 10-16 kg. Their diet consists of small fish, squid, and crustaceans. Easily recognizable, they have black backs, white bellies, orange-red cheeks and bills, and a distinctive golden-yellow patch on their necks.

King Penguins are strong swimmers, cruising at 5-10 km per hour. They dive deep, often over 100 meters, and can stay underwater for up to 10 minutes.

King Penguins have a lifespan of up to 25 years in the wild. The global population is estimated at 2.2 million breeding pairs, primarily found in destinations like the Falkland Islands and South Georgia.

3. Gentoo Penguin

Gentoo Penguins, the third largest in the penguin world, stand out with their vibrant red-orange beaks, white-feather caps, and peach-colored feet. In their rock-strewn Antarctic habitat, they reach a height of 30 inches and weigh about 12 pounds. Gentoos can live 15 to 20 years in the wild and have a diet that includes fish, squid, and krill.

While they may appear awkward on land, Gentoos are incredibly graceful in the water. Their streamlined bodies and strong, paddle-shaped flippers enable them to swim at speeds up to 22 miles an hour, making them the fastest diving birds.

These charming penguins are found on the Antarctic Peninsula and numerous surrounding islands, where they are known for their charismatic waddling.

4. Little Penguin

The Little Penguin, the smallest in the world, stands just 30 cm tall and weighs about 1.1 to 1.2 kg. With its pale eyes, this tiny blue-gray bird makes its home along the southern coastline of Australia and across New Zealand.

Known for nesting in burrows in dunes or rocks, including human-made breakwaters, they’re often seen swimming on the sea surface or coming ashore in the evenings. These penguins are easily recognized by their small size and pale plumage, lacking any black.

Their range extends along Australia’s southern coast, reaching as far north as the South Solitary Island off New South Wales, and includes New Zealand’s coasts. Little Penguins inhabit rocky coastlines, savannas, scrub forests, and other forest areas. As marine seabirds, they spend most of their lives swimming underwater, perfectly adapted to their aquatic lifestyle.

5. Adelie Penguin

Adélie Penguins are medium-sized, weighing between 3 and 6 kg and standing about 70 cm tall. They are easily recognized by the distinctive white ring around their eyes. Males and females are similar in size, making it hard to differentiate between them.

These penguins are adept swimmers, with an average walking speed on ice of 2.5 km/h and swimming speed ranging from 4 to 8 km/h. When there’s enough snow on the ice, Adélies enjoy tobogganing on their bellies.

They are one of only five penguin species living on the Antarctic continent. Adélie Penguins’ diet varies based on their feeding location. Locally, they mostly eat fish, amphipods, and ‘crystal krill,’ while their offshore diet consists mainly of ‘Antarctic krill.’

6. Erect-crested Penguin

The Erect-crested Penguin is a medium-sized bird, about 26 inches in length and weighing around 10 pounds. It has bluish-black to jet-black upperparts and white underparts, distinguished by a wide, bright-yellow stripe that starts over the eye and forms a short, erect crest.

These penguins are native to the pack ice and surrounding marine areas. They exclusively breed on New Zealand’s Bounty and Antipodes island systems. In the wild, Erect-crested Penguins have an average lifespan of 15 to 20 years.

Their diet mainly consists of krill and squid, supplemented by some small fish. However, their population has seen a significant decrease, and it’s currently listed as Endangered by the IUCN.

7. Chinstrap Penguin

Chinstrap Penguins, recognized by the distinctive narrow black band under their heads, measure 68–76 cm (27–30 in) in length and weigh between 3.2–5.3 kg (7.1–11.7 lb). The band of black feathers that runs from ear to ear just below the chin and cheeks is a key identifying feature. Males and females appear similar, but males are generally larger and heavier.

These penguins primarily breed on the Antarctic Peninsula and on islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, with a smaller breeding population found on the Balleny Islands south of New Zealand.

As one of the most abundant penguin species in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic regions, Chinstrap Penguins mainly feed on krill and fish. They are near-shore feeders, usually hunting close to their breeding colonies.

8. Galapagos Penguin

The smallest penguin species, and the only penguin living in the tropics north of the Equator, is the Galapagos Penguin. Standing about 49 cm (19.2 inches) tall, they have a black back and white chest, with pink patches on their feet and faces to stay cool in warm climates.

These penguins are exclusive to the Galapagos Islands, thriving in areas touched by the Cromwell and Humboldt currents. These currents bring cold waters rich in mullets, anchovies, and sardines, forming the basis of their diet.

Galapagos Penguins are impressive swimmers, capable of reaching speeds up to 30 km per hour in pursuit of food. The population is estimated at about 2,000 individuals, primarily found on Fernandina and Isabela islands in the archipelago.

9. African Penguin

The African Penguin is also known as the Black-footed Penguin. With a population of about 15,000 breeding pairs, they are currently classified as Endangered. These penguins typically weigh between 3.0 and 3.3 kg and stand around 60 cm tall, with an average lifespan of 20 years.

This penguin species is distinguished by a unique band of black feathers that crosses the breast and a distinct circle of featherless skin encircling each eye. Known for inhabiting various coastal locations in Namibia and South Africa, this characteristic appearance sets it apart from other penguin species.

Their diet mainly consists of anchovy, sardines, and bearded goby (particularly in Namibia), along with horse mackerel, juvenile hake, redeye, and occasionally cephalopods and crustaceans.

10. Humboldt Penguin

Humboldt Penguins, native to the shores of Peru and Chile in South America, are named after the cold Humboldt Current flowing through their habitat. These birds have an average lifespan of 15-20 years in captivity. They are 22–28 inches long and weigh between 8-13 pounds.

With their torpedo-shaped bodies, Humboldt Penguins are outstanding swimmers, capable of reaching speeds up to 30 miles per hour.

They can dive as deep as 500 feet underwater to hunt for their favorite foods like fish, shrimp, and squid. This ability makes them adept hunters in their aquatic environment.

11. Magellanic Penguin

The Magellanic Penguin, named after the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, was first spotted by his crew in 1519 during their voyage around the tip of South America. This flightless bird resides on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the continent, predominantly in Argentina, Chile, and the Falkland Islands.

Sporting a black body and white belly, the Magellanic Penguin’s countershading is a natural adaptation to elude predators in the water. As a carnivore, its diet includes various marine foods.

In the wild, these penguins typically live between 10 and 20 years, but their lifespan can extend up to 35 years in captivity. They stand about 24 to 30 inches tall and weigh between 8 to 14 pounds. The Magellanic Penguin’s distinct coloring and habitat make it a unique member of the penguin family.

12. Southern Rockhopper Penguin

Southern Rockhopper Penguins, significantly smaller than Emperor Penguins, weigh less than 10 pounds. They get their name from their unique way of moving, hopping over the rocky terrain of the hills and cliffs where they live and breed.

In the past 30 years, the Rockhopper Penguin population has declined by nearly 30%, and now, with the added threat of climate change, they face even greater risks to their survival.

13. Macaroni Penguin

Macaroni Penguins, slightly larger than Rockhopper Penguins, are known for their striking golden orange head plumes that fan out from the forehead and a notable pink patch at the gape. Their head, throat, and back are blue-black, while their underparts are white.

These penguins typically stand 61-69 cm tall and measure 66-74 cm in length, weighing between 3.5 to 5.5 kg, with males being heavier than females. In the wild, their life expectancy ranges from 10 to 15 years. Their diet mainly consists of lobster, krill, and squid, occasionally supplemented by small fish.

Macaroni Penguins are found near the northern limit of their range in the Falkland Islands, where they are the least common among the local species.

14. Fiordland Penguin

The Fiordland crested penguin, or tawaki, is one of New Zealand’s rarest mainland penguins. Adults have dark blue-grey or black upperparts, which turn brown as they approach molting, with the head often being darker. Their underparts are silky white.

These penguins are endemic to New Zealand, breeding in small, hard-to-reach colonies on headlands and islets along the shores of South Island’s southwestern coast and on Stewart Island. Their nesting habitats are varied, including mature temperate rainforests, dense coastal shrubs, sea caves, and underneath rock boulders.

The current tawaki population, estimated to be between 2,500 and 3,000 breeding pairs, has been experiencing a decline since the 1950s.

Conclusion

In the vast and varied tapestry of the animal kingdom, penguins stand out as marvels of adaptation and survival.

As we explore the diverse world of these charming birds, from icy Antarctic shores to tropical islands, they inspire us to appreciate the wonders of nature and remind us of the importance of preserving these extraordinary creatures and their habitats for future generations.