Silhouette of adelie penguin and chick, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Emperor penguin chick and adults (Aptenodytes forsteri), Snow Hill Island, Weddell Sea, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Emperor penguin chicks (Aptenodytes forsteri), Snow Hill Island, Weddell Sea, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Emperor penguin chicks (Aptenodytes forsteri), Snow Hill Island, Weddell Sea, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri), Snow Hill Island, Weddell Sea, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri), chick and adult, Snow Hill Island, Weddell Sea, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri), chick and adults, Snow Hill Island, Weddell Sea, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri), chick, Snow Hill Island, Weddell Sea, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri), chicks in colony, Snow Hill Island, Weddell Sea, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Emperor penguin chick (Aptenodytes forsteri), Snow Hill Island, Weddell Sea, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Emperor penguin chicks (Aptenodytes forsteri), Snow Hill Island, Weddell Sea, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Emperor penguin chick and adult (Aptenodytes forsteri), Snow Hill Island, Weddell Sea, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Emperor penguin chick and adults (Aptenodytes forsteri), Snow Hill Island, Weddell Sea, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Emperor penguin chick (Aptenodytes forsteri), Snow Hill Island, Weddell Sea, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Emperor penguin chick and adult (Aptenodytes forsteri), Snow Hill Island, Weddell Sea, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Emperor penguin chicks (Aptenodytes forsteri), Snow Hill Island, Weddell Sea, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) adult on nest with young chicks on Cuverville Island, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) adult on nest with young chicks on Cuverville Island, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Above and below water view of kelp in Hercules Bay, South Georgia, Polar Regions

King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) adults with chicks at St. Andrews Bay, South Georgia, Polar Regions

King penguin chick (Aptenodytes patagonicus), ecstatic display in Gold Harbor, South Georgia, Polar Regions

Adult gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) with minutes-old newly hatched chick at Gold Harbor on South Georgia

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) chick at Jougla Point, Wiencke Island, Antarctica, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) in downy plumage (okum boys) on South Georgia Island, Polar Regions

Mother and baby African penguin (jackass penguin) (Spheniscus demersus) colony, Boulders Beach, Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, Africa

Mother and baby African penguin (jackass penguin) (Spheniscus demersus) colony, Boulders Beach, Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, Africa

Gentoo penguin. Pygoscelis papua. Royal bay, south georgia, antarctica

Gentoo penguin. Pygoscelis papua. Chick. Wiencke island. Antarctica

Molting gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) feather detail in Antarctica

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) chicks covered with mud and guano on Cuverville Island, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) tobogganing near the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

Curious king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) breeding and nesting colony at St. Andrews Bay on South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) pup (often called "weaners" once their mothers stop nursing them) on South Georgia Island in the Southern Ocean

King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) breeding and nesting colony on South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean.

Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) in Antarctica

Adult gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) trying to avoid hungry chick in Antarctica

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) chick head detail at colony on Useful Island near the Antarctic Peninsula. There are an estimated 2 million breeding pairs of chinstrap penguins in the Antarctic peninsula region alone, perhaps as many as 7.5 million breeding pairs in all of Antarctica. Their name derives from the narrow black band under their heads which makes it appear as if they are wearing black helmets, making them one of the most easily identified types of penguin. Other names for them are "Ringed Penguins", "Bearded Penguins", and "Stonecracker Penguins" due to their harsh call. They grow to 68 cm (27 in). The average adult weight of a Chinstrap Penguin is 4.5 kg (10 lbs). Weight can range from 3 to 6 kg (6.6-13.2 lbs), with males being slightly larger and weight varying based on where the penguin is in the breeding cycle. Their diet consists of krill, shrimp, and fish. On land they build circular nests from stones, and lay two eggs, which are incubated by both the male and the female for shifts of five to ten days. They can also breed on icebergs, though they prefer non-icy conditions. The chicks hatch after about 35 days, and have fluffy gray backs and white fronts. The chicks stay in the nest for 20?30 days before they go to join a creche. At around 50?60 days old, they moult, gaining their adult plumage and go to sea. The Chinstrap Penguin was first described by German naturalist Forster in 1781. Its specific epithet was often seen as antarctica, however a 2002 review determined the genus Pygoscelis was masculine, and hence the correct binomial name is Pygoscelis antarcticus.

The Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus), Argentina, South America

The Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus), Argentina

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) chick, Hannah Point, Antarctica, Southern Ocean.

Two Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) chicks enjoying childhood guarded by one of their parents. Petermann Island, Antarctica

King Penguin (Aptenodytes Patagonicus) protecting its chick. Sandy Bay, Macquarie Island, Subantarctic Australia.

Adult Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus) with almost grown up chick. Livingston Island, Antarctica

Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) at a breeding and molting site in Estancia San Lorenzo on Peninsula Valdez, Patagonia, Argentina, South Atlantic

Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) near the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) chick, fat after being fed, Paulet Island, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Gentoo penguin adult (Pygoscelis papua) on hatching egg in Antarctica

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) chicks covered with mud and guano on Cuverville Island, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) adult feeding chick, fat after being fed, Paulet Island, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Two Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) chicks enjoying childhood guarded by one of their parents. Petermann Island, Antarctica

Gentoo penguin parent (Pygoscelis papua) with chicks in Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Adult female leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) killing and eating a juvenile Ad?lie penguin at Brown Bluff near the Antarctic Peninsula, Southern Ocean

Head detail of molting gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) in Antarctica

King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) parent with hungry chick on South Georgia Island, southern Atlantic Ocean.

Huge colony of Adélie Penguin chicks (Pygoscelis adeliae) waiting for their parents to return and feed them. Paulet Island, Weddell Sea

King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) chick, South Georgia, Antarctica, Southern Ocean.

Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) parents communicating with both of their hungry chicks. Petermann Island, Antarctica

Huge colony of Adélie Penguin chicks (Pygoscelis adeliae) waiting for their parents to retrun and feed them. Paulet Island, Weddell Sea

King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) adult and chick at breeding and nesting colony at Salisbury Plains in the Bay of Isles, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

Two Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) chicks enjoying childhood guarded by one of their parents. Petermann Island, Antarctica

Huge colony of Adélie Penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) shuttling food from the sea to the hungry chicks ashore. Paulet Island, Weddell Sea

Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) near the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) chicks molting, South Georgia, Antarctica, Southern Ocean.

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) with chick, Hannah Point, Antarctica, Southern Ocean.

Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) near the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

King penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) in downy plumage (often called "okum boys") on South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean.

Gentoo penguin parent (Pygoscelis papua) with chicks in Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) near the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

King Penguin chick, Aptenodytes patagonicus, amongst colony, Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, South Atlantic Ocean.

King penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) in downy plumage (often called "okum boys") on South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean.

Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) at a breeding and molting site on East Island, Falkland Islands, South Atlantic

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) feeding chick, Cuverville Island, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Adult Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) feeding its chick with krill. Paulet Island, Weddell Sea

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) chick in Antarctica

Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) near the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) creche (protective group of chicks while parents are at sea feeding) on the Antarctic Peninsula.

Adult Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) feeding chick in Antarctica

Adult king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) in the act of feeding chick on South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean.

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) with chicks,Cuverville Island, Antarctica, Southern Ocean.

Adult Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) sitting on nest with one hatched chicken and one still being in egg. Cuverville Island, Antarctica

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) adults with chicks in Antarctica

The Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus), Argentina, South America

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) adults with chicks in Antarctica

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) molting in Antarctica

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) parent feeding regurgitated krill to hungry chick in Antarctica.

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) chick hatching from egg, Cuverville Island, Antarctica, Southern Ocean.

King penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) adults and chicks, South Georgia, Antarctica, Southern Ocean.

Adult Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) chased by its chick in demand for food. Paulet Island, Weddell Sea, Antarctica

Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) parents communicating with both of their hungry chicks. Petermann Island, Antarctica

Gentoo penguin parent (Pygoscelis papua) with chicks in Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Adult Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) avoiding hungry chick in Antarctica

Guest from the Lindblad Expedition ship National Geographic Explorer with gentoo penguin chick in Antarctica

Gentoo penguin parent (Pygoscelis papua) with chicks in Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) with chick, Hannah Point, Antarctica, Southern Ocean.

Northern Giant Petrel (Macronectes halli) scaring off a big group of Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) chicks. Livingston Island, Antarctic Peninsula

Adult Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) with chick below tussock grass. Cooper Bay, South Georgia, Subantarctic

Adult Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) with chick sitting on a nest. The chick is flapping its wings. Neko Harbour, Antarctica

Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) near the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica.

Gentoo penguin parent (Pygoscelis papua) with chicks in Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) chick in Antarctica