Penguins: Life on Ice

Penguins are birds that cannot fly! Instead of flying, they are amazing swimmers. Their wings work like flippers to help them zoom through the water. Most penguins live in cold places near the South Pole in Antarctica, but some live in warmer places like South Africa and New Zealand. Emperor penguins are the tallest, standing almost 4 feet tall. Penguins eat fish, squid, and tiny shrimp called krill. They catch their food underwater. Penguin parents take turns caring for their eggs. Emperor penguin dads keep the egg warm on their feet for two months while the mom goes to find food! Penguins waddle on land because their legs are short. They also slide on their bellies across the ice. This is called tobogganing!