Red-Breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) with two chicks, Iceland, Polar Regions

Two water thickknee (water dikkop) (Burhinus vermiculatus) chicks, Hluhluwe Game Reserve, South Africa, Africa

Red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator) with two chicks, Iceland, Polar Regions

Common Loon (Gavia immer) adult with two chicks, Lac Le Jeune Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada, North America

An adult jabiru (Jabiru mycteria) with two chicks on a nest at Pousado Rio Claro, Mato Grosso, Brazil, South America

Common Loon (Gavia immer), two chicks, Lac Le Jeune Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada, North America

Common Loon (Gavia immer) adult and two chicks on its back, Lac Le Jeune Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada, North America

Common Loon (Gavia immer) adult and two chicks, Lac Le Jeune Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada, North America

Common Loon (Gavia immer) adult with two chicks on its back, Lac Le Jeune Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada, North America

Common Loon (Gavia immer) adult with two chicks, Lac Le Jeune Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada, North America

Common Loon (Gavia immer) adult with two chicks, Lac Le Jeune Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada, North America

Adult osprey (Pandion haliaetus), with two chicks on nest, Flamingo, Everglades National Park, Florida, United States of America, North America

Common loon (Gavia immer) adult and two chicks, Lac Le Jeune Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada, North America

Common ostrich (Struthio camelus) male with two chicks, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park encompassing the former Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, South Africa, Africa

Common ostrich (Struthio camelus) female with two chicks, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park encompassing the former Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, South Africa, Africa

Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) with chick. Inner Farne, Nothumberland, UK

Crowned plover or crowned lapwing (Vanellus coronatus) adult with two chicks, Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa, Africa

Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) with chick. Farne Islands, off Northumberland coast, UK

Black-Legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) adult and two chicks on the nest, Iceland, Polar Regions

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) adult with two chicks begging for food, Ronge Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Blue-footed Booby bird feeds juvenile on Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Blue-footed Booby bird on the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador sheltering young chicks

Upland goose (chloephaga picta) two chicks walking on sandy beach, new island, falkland islands.

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) parent with two downy chicks on Pleneau Island, near the Antarctic Peninsula.

Adult Antarctic Shag, (Phalacrocorax (atriceps) bransfieldensis) from breeding colony on the Antarctic Peninsula

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

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

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) adult feeding chick in Antarctica

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

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

Adult Brown Skua (Catharacta antarctica) adult with chick on the Antarctic peninsula in the southern ocean

Adult Antarctic Shag, (Phalacrocorax (atriceps) bransfieldensis) from breeding colony on the Antarctic Peninsula

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

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) parent with two downy chicks on Pleneau Island, near the Antarctic Peninsula.

Adult Antarctic Shag, (Phalacrocorax (atriceps) bransfieldensis) from breeding colony on the Antarctic Peninsula

Adult Black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophrys) feeding and preening chick at breeding colony on New Island in the Falkland Islands, Southern Atlantic Ocean

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

Adult Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) feeding chick in Antarctica

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

Adult American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus galapagensis) feeding chick along the shoreline on Bartolome Island in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador

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

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

The Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus), Argentina

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

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

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

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

Adult Antarctic Shag, (Phalacrocorax (atriceps) bransfieldensis) from breeding colony on the Antarctic Peninsula

Adult Black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophrys) feeding and preening chick at breeding colony on New Island in the Falkland Islands, Southern Atlantic Ocean

Adult Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) feeding chick in Antarctica

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

Adult Nazca booby (Sula grantii) with chick at nesting site on Punta Suarez on Espanola Island in the Galapagos Island Archipeligo, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean.

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

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

Black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophrys) chick on nest at breeding colony on New Island in the Falkland Islands, Southern Atlantic Ocean

Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) chick perched on rock getting fed by parent. Ganavan, Oban, Scotland, UK

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

Adult Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) with chick in Antarctica

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

Adult Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) leaving its chick for finding food. Paulet Island, Weddell Sea, Antarctica

Flightless cormorant (Nannopterum harrisi) parent with two chicks in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador

Adult Antarctic Shag, (Phalacrocorax (atriceps) bransfieldensis) from breeding colony on the Antarctic Peninsula

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) parent with two downy chicks on Pleneau Island, near the Antarctic Peninsula.

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

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

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

Adult Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) with chick lying down in an Antarctic secenery. Petermann Island, Antarctica

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

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

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

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

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

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

Adult Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) feeding chick in Antarctica

Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) in Antarctica

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

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

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

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) parent and chick at breeding colony on Useful Island near the Antarctic Peninsula

Southern Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus) parent and chick on Barren Island in the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean

Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) in Antarctica

Adult Nazca booby (Sula grantii) feeding downy chick in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

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

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

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

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

Adult Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) checking on its chick while sitting on nest. Cuverville Island, Antarctica

Adult Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) feeding chick in Antarctica

Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) in Antarctica

Two Nazca booby (Sula grantii) chicks at nesting site on Punta Suarez on Espanola Island in the Galapagos Island Archipeligo, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean.

Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) chicks kept warm and safe while sitting in nest with one of its parents. Neko Harbour, Antarctica

Adult brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) in nest with two chicks on Bartolome Island in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean. (RR)

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

Adult Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) trying to feed its chick with krill. Neko Harbour, Antarctica

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

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

Adult gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) feeding minutes-old newly hatched chick at Gold Harbor on South Georgia, Southern Ocean

Flightless cormorant (Nannopterum harrisi) parent at sunset with chick in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador