About the Emperor Penguin

Emperor penguins are the largest of all penguin species, standing up to 4 feet tall and weighing up to 100 pounds. These remarkable birds are native to Antarctica, where they endure some of the harshest conditions on Earth. Emperor penguins are known for their unique breeding cycle, where males incubate a single egg on their feet for about two months during the Antarctic winter, fasting the entire time. They have several adaptations for extreme cold, including four layers of overlapping feathers and a layer of blubber. Emperor penguins are excellent swimmers, using their wings as flippers to 'fly' through the water at speeds up to 7 mph. They feed primarily on fish, squid, and krill. Due to climate change affecting their sea ice habitat, emperor penguins are considered near threatened, and conservation efforts are ongoing to protect these iconic Antarctic birds.