Penguins are one of the most popular animals on the planet, and have been ever since movies like March of the Penguins and Happy Feet came out in 2005-2006.
But how much do you know about these beloved flightless birds? Do you know where penguins live, what they eat, how fast they can swim, or that they date back more than 60 million years?!
The 17 different species of penguins can be found on every continent in the Southern Hemisphere– Africa, Antarctica, Australia and South America.
While most people associate these funny flightless waterfowl with the cold climate of Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands, they’re also seen as far north as the coasts of Namibia, Brazil, and the Galapagos Islands.
Read on for a look at the broad variety of places around the world where penguins live, as well as the best times of year to see them there…
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Where Do Penguins Live Guide
- Antarctica & The Antarctic Islands
- Australia/New Zealand
- Argentina/Chile
- Galapagos Islands
- South Africa
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1. ANTARCTICA & THE ANTARCTIC ISLANDS
If you’ve ever seen March of the Penguins, you probably imagine the penguins of Antarctica all huddled together is massive colonies to shield their eggs from a blinding blizzard.
While that’s certainly a reality of life for some penguin species, it’s much easier for travelers to visit them during the Antarctic summer, when daytime temperatures often get into the 40s.
Antarctica is home to four different species of Penguin, each of which has their own preferred habitat.
Emperor Penguins typically breed on pack ice and shelf ice (usually between the 66° and 77° south latitudes). But several breeding colonies have been found on land in recent years, including one at Amundsen Bay and another at Taylor Glacier in Victoria Land.
Chinstrap Penguins, Gentoo Penguins, and Adelie Penguins are all closely related and commonly seen.
Look for them nesting on rocks relatively close to shore on both the mainland and numerous Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands, including the Danger Islands, the Falklands, and South Georgia Islands.
The King Penguin is second only to the Emperor Penguin among the world’s largest penguins. They’re also one of the most plentiful penguin species, with an estimated 2.3 million breeding…
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