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What appears to be just standing around without a purpose is a false premise. Actually, these King Penguins are discussing the weather. Upon exhausting that subject, they then contemplate taking a dive. Nothing like a cold swim on a cool day for these birds.

Although Penguins can’t fly they are prolific swimmers and divers. Their average foraging areas are seventeen miles from their home base. They can swim up to 6 miles per hour and have been known to dive anywhere from 200 feet to 1,000 feet. They can stay submerged for up to 9 minutes.

Not only do they swim, but they waddle walk and often ‘toboggan’, sliding along the snow on their bellies. While in the ocean, these birds ‘porpoise’ swim similar to the mammal the style is named after. This allows them to swim farther while breathing regularly.

Penquins are social creatures and live in large colonies. They are fascinating creatures, and handsome, too !


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Headless in Kansas City ! Look closely.