Penguin Awareness Day 2025: 7 cool facts about THESE aquatic birds

Penguin Awareness Day honors these charming, flightless birds. From icy Antarctica to warm islands, penguins thrive in unique ways. Here are 7 cool facts about them

Though flightless, penguins are superb swimmers, 'flying' underwater at speeds up to 15 mph using powerful flippers

Emperor penguins can dive over 1,800 feet deep and hold their breath for more than 20 minutes, adapting to extreme underwater conditions

Penguins waddle and slide on their bellies, creating an endearing and joyful spectacle as they navigate their icy habitats and interact with fellow penguins.

Their tightly packed feathers and oil-producing glands keep them warm and dry, even in icy waters or harsh winds

Penguins live in large colonies, sometimes numbering in the thousands, for safety, warmth, and teamwork in parenting

In species like emperors, males cradle eggs on their feet under a brood pouch, fasting for weeks while mothers hunt

Most penguins mate for life, returning annually to the same partner and nesting site to raise their chicks

While associated with Antarctica, penguins also inhabit temperate zones, like the Galápagos Islands near the equator