Penguins are flightless birds found primarily on the coasts and islands of Antarctica, South America, Australia, New Zealand, and Africa. Out of 18 penguin species, only one, the Galapagos penguin, has a range that crosses into the Northern Hemisphere. Penguins come in various sizes, ranging from a mere 15 inches to nearly 4 feet tall. They may weigh as little as 2 pounds or as much as 88 pounds. Much of a penguin’s diet depends on its location and size; however, all penguins are carnivores. So what do these carnivorous birds eat?
What Foods Do Penguins Eat?
As we mentioned above, all 18 species of penguins are carnivorous. Most penguins primarily eat fish, supplemented with other seafood depending on the species’ location. Researchers have found that penguins at lower latitudes, such as Little blue penguins and Spheniscus penguins, eat more fish than species at higher latitudes. Penguins inhabiting higher latitudes, such as Macaroni, Chinstrap, and Adélie penguins, rely heavily on both krill and fish, along with smaller amounts of other seafood.
Scientists also found that differences in diet were predictably tied to differences in prey availability between hunting grounds. African penguins and Little blue penguins were also found to change the quantities of prey they consume on a seasonal basis, though not always due to changes in availability. In species like the Humboldt penguin, periodic oceanographic events like El Niño require them to change the types of fish they eat.
While there are some variations depending on species and habitat, penguins primarily eat:
- Fish, including anchovies, sardines, sprats, herring, pilchard, mullet, icefish, and lanternfish
- Cephalopods, such as squid and cuttlefish
- Crustaceans, including krill, crab, and shrimp
- Jellyfish
How Do Penguins Hunt for Food?
Penguins hunt for food while swimming.
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Penguins predominantly feed in the ocean. They hunt for food while swimming, generally within about 60 feet of the surface. However, emperor penguins, the largest species, may dive as far as 1,800 feet in search of prey and stay submerged for up to 20 minutes.
Penguins may also travel hundreds of miles in search of prey. King penguins travel over 500 miles from their colonies, while emperor penguins sometimes travel over 900 miles to forage for food. However, some penguins, like Chinstrap penguins, prefer to stick closer to their colonies. Adélie penguins also travel less than 10 miles to hunt for food. Penguins that prefer not to travel have been observed using holes in the ice to fish if their hunting grounds are too far away.
As they swim, penguins catch prey in their bills, swallowing it whole. They have backward-facing spines, called papillae, on their tongues and the roofs of their mouths. These spines help to grip slippery prey and guide it down their throats.
What Do Penguins Eat at the Zoo vs. in the Wild?
Most of a wild penguin’s diet consists of fresh, live fish and seafood, which they swallow whole. However, a penguin in captivity will usually be fed whole frozen fish that have been thawed in a refrigerated space. Frozen fish for captive populations is not only more practical, but it is also necessary to maintain diet consistency.
