Read It!

It’s easy to see why people like penguins. These black-and-white birds look like people dressed in tuxedos—the formal suits that people wear at weddings—as they waddle around. They also seem to like people—or, at least, not to mind them. Instead of running away, they might look a human in the eye, as if to say hello!

Beyond all this, penguins are simply beautiful animals. Their feathers are sleek and shiny. And many penguins have handsome patterns or colorful feathers on their heads that make them  look very splendid indeed. You probably know that penguins cannot fly. In fact, they make up the largest family of flightless birds in the world—there are 18 living species. The total number of penguins on Earth is estimated at around 40 million. Nearly all penguins live in the southern half of the earth—the Southern Hemisphere. Only one type—the Galápagos penguin—can be found just north of the Equator.

Many people are surprised to learn that penguins do not always live in cold places. Along with the Galápagos penguin, other penguins live in places where it is warm at least part of the year, such as the coast of South America, southern Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. Some penguins live on islands inside the Antarctic Circle during the summer but migrate to warmer places to spend the winter. Only two species of penguins (Adélies and Emperors) live in very cold areas all year long.

Read It!

It’s easy to see why people like penguins. These black-and-white birds look like people dressed in tuxedos—the formal suits that people wear at weddings—as they waddle around. They also seem to like people—or, at least, not to mind them. Instead of running away, they might look a human in the eye, as if to say hello!

Beyond all this, penguins are simply beautiful animals. Their feathers are sleek and shiny. And many penguins have handsome patterns or colorful feathers on their heads that make them  look very splendid indeed. You probably know that penguins cannot fly. In fact, they make up the largest family of flightless birds in the world—there are 18 living species. The total number of penguins on Earth is estimated at around 40 million. Nearly all penguins live in the southern half of the earth—the Southern Hemisphere. Only one type—the Galápagos penguin—can be found just north of the Equator.

Many people are surprised to learn that penguins do not always live in cold places. Along with the Galápagos penguin, other penguins live in places where it is warm at least part of the year, such as the coast of South America, southern Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. Some penguins live on islands inside the Antarctic Circle during the summer but migrate to warmer places to spend the winter. Only two species of penguins (Adélies and Emperors) live in very cold areas all year long.