Baby Penguin: 9 Facts and 9 Pictures

Baby penguins are adorable fluff balls of heartwarming cuteness! However, did you know that the smallest baby penguin is born only weighing around 1.2 ounces? Or that polar bears and penguins don’t live in the same place? Keep reading to check out nine awesome baby penguin facts and see some adorable baby penguin pictures.

#9: The Tiniest Baby Penguins Are Seriously Tiny

The little penguin is the smallest species of penguin in the world. When they are born, they weigh an astoundingly small 1.2 to 1.6 ounces. These baby penguins are only about 3 inches long when newly hatched. When fully grown, they reach a maximum of 2 to 3 pounds and about one foot in height.

#8: A Baby Penguin Is Called a Chick 

Even though they can’t fly, penguins are a part of the bird family. They grow feathers, have beaks, and lay eggs. Penguins used to be able to fly, but over millions of years, their wings evolved into flippers to help them adapt to life in the water. Like other baby birds, baby penguins are commonly called chicks.

#6: Male Emperor Penguins Are in Charge of the Eggs

You might already know that most animals that lay eggs primarily depend on their mothers to care for them. However, some penguins break the mold. Male emperor penguins take primary ownership of caring for the egg. The males build the nest, protect the egg, and even sit on it to ensure it stays warm. Most other penguin species share the duties.

#5: Baby Penguins Have Furry Feathers to Keep Them Warm

When most penguins are born, they have a fluffy, downy layer of feathers. Commonly mistaken for fur, these fluffy feathers protect baby penguins from the harsh cold of their environments. Since these feathers are not waterproof, the chicks won’t swim until they grow their waterproof plumage over their soft and fluffy undercoats. The waterproof feathers make it easier for them to swim, while their downy undercoats keep them warm.

#4: Baby Penguins and Baby Polar Bears Don’t Live Together

If you’ve ever seen a movie featuring baby penguins, you may have seen them living and playing alongside baby polar bears. It might come as a surprise to learn that polar bears and penguins actually live thousands of miles apart. Penguins generally live in the Southern Hemisphere, in places like Antarctica, the Galapagos Islands, New Zealand, and Australia. Polar bears live in the Northern Hemisphere, mainly in Alaska, Greenland, Russia, and Canada.

#3: Penguins Are Ready to Hatch in 30-75 Days 

Baby penguins don’t take very long to incubate before they are ready to hatch. Depending on the penguin species, this process can take anywhere from around 30 days for erect-crested penguins to up to 75 days for emperor penguins. The breeding season for most penguin species takes place between March and August, but this can vary by species and location.

#2: Baby and Juvenile Penguins Have Different Coloration Than Adults

In all penguin species, baby penguins do not have the same coloration as their parents. Instead, baby and juvenile penguins have black, brown, gray, and white coloration, depending on the species. Scientists think the different coloration ensures that adults view them as babies and juveniles, and don’t see them as competitors. Juvenile penguins usually get their adult feathers when they are about a year old.

#1: Baby Penguins Can’t Regulate Their Body Temperature

When penguins are babies, they cannot regulate their body temperatures. For this reason, they huddle between their parents’ legs to keep warm. Adult penguins waddle around with their young to protect them from the elements and to keep them safe from predators.