Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) chick practising flight, Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) Baja California Sur, Mexico, North America

Adult osprey (Pandion haliaetus) with three chicks, Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) Baja California Sur, Mexico, North America

Juvenile brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) plunge-diving, Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Baja California, Mexico, North America

Nazca booby (Sula grantii) downy chick in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ecuador, South America

Black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophrys) chick on the nest at nesting site on New Island, Falklands, South America

Black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophrys) adult feeding chick at nesting site on West Point Island, Falkland Islands, South America

Young wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) on the wing near the Antarctic Peninsula, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) adult feeding chick at Hannah Point on Livingston Island, Antarctica, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

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

Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) with young. Farne Islands, Northumberland, UK

Wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) chick at nest site on Prion Island in the Bay of Isles, South Georgia, Polar Regions

Young northern gannet (Morus bassanus) in flight near Ile des Oiseaux in the Parc National du Delta du Saloum, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Senegal, West Africa, Africa

Black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophrys) chick on the nest at nesting site on New Island, Falklands, South America

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

Wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) chick at breeding colony on Prion Island, Bay of Isles, South Georgia

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

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

Young northern gannet (Morus bassanus) in flight near Ile des Oiseaux in the Parc National du Delta du Saloum, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Senegal, West Africa, Africa

Young northern gannet (Morus bassanus) in flight near Ile des Oiseaux in the Parc National du Delta du Saloum, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Senegal, West Africa, Africa

Young wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) on the wing near the Antarctic Peninsula, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

Waved albatross (Diomedea irrorata) chick almost ready for flight at breeding colony on Espanola Island, Galapagos Islands, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ecuador, South America

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

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

King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) adult and chick at breeding and nesting colony at Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Polar Regions

Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) feeding young. Farne Islands, Northumberland, UK

Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) with young. Farne Islands, Northumberland, UK

Wandering albatross (diomedea exulans) prion island, south georgia, chick sat on nest, close-up

Wandering albatross (diomedea exulans) prion island, south georgia, adult feeding chick

Wandering albatross (diomedea exulans) prion island, south georgia, chick exercising wings

Wandering albatross (diomedea exulans) prion island, south georgia, chick sat on nest

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

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

Gentoo penguins. Pygoscelis papua. Juvenile gentoos hanging around a pool. Antarctica

Molting gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) feather detail in Antarctica

A parent and chick Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) on Paulet Island on the Northeast side of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Adelie penguin chick (Pygoscelis adeliae) fledging its downy feathers for the adult feathers underneath on Devil Island, 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.

Great frigatebird (Fregata minor) chick in the nest in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Juvenile great frigate bird (Fregata minor) nesting and breeding site on North Seymour Island in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean.

Beached California Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) calf stranded by gill net around flukes on Isla Tiburon in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico.

A leucistic Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) adult feeding its "normal" colored chicks on Devil Island near the Antarctic Peninsula

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

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

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

Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) in Antarctica

Grave site at the abandoned former whaling station at Port Foster inside of the caldera at Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) parent feeding downy chick on Pleneau Island, near the Antarctic Peninsula.

Northern giant petrel (Macronectes halli) fighting over the scavenging rights to a dead elephant seal pup at St. Andrews Bay on South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean

Juvenile kelp gull (Larus dominicanus) in flight near Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, Southern Ocean

Black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophrys) chick (head detail) at Devil's Nose on New Island in the Falkland Island Group, Falklands.

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.

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) parent with downy chick on Petermann Island, near the Antarctic Peninsula.

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

The Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus), Argentina

Adult Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) with chicks. Hannah point, Antartica, Southern Ocean.

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

Young eared grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) fishing in a shallow bay on Isla Danzante in the lower Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Baja California Sur, Mexico.

Beached California Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) calf with Turkey Buzzards feeding on carcass on Isla Tiburon in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico.

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

Razorbill egg (Alca torda). L'Etac, Sark, British Channel Islands

Juvenile great frigate bird (Fregata minor) with inflated gular on North Seymour Island in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean

Young southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) on the beach at South Georgia in the Southern Ocean

Blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii) chick in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador. The Galapagos are a nest and breeding area for blue-footed boobies.

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

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

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

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

Young rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome moseleyi) molting on Nightingale Island in the Tristan da Cunha Island Group, South Atlantic Ocean

Juvenile Antarctic Shag (Phalacrocorax (atriceps) bransfieldensis) on Petermann Island near the Antarctic Peninsula

Wild Adult Female, Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), new pup, fresh born. Slaty Back Gull picking at placenta and discharge from fresh born. endangered, colony, rookery, haul out, raft, above water.Bering Islands (Bering Sea) Russia, Asia. MORE INFO: This sea lion in the largest member of the eared seals.

South polar skua (Catharacta maccormicki) chick about to fledge, will have much lighter plumage cf to Brown skua, Ross Sea, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

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

Wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) chick at breeding colony on Prion Island, Bay of Isles, South Georgia, 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.

Grey-headed Albatross (Thalassarche chrysostoma) chick begging for food on nesting grounds in Elsehul Bay, South Georgia Island.

Magnificent frigat bird (fregata magnificens ) A pair of young frigate birds. Gulf of California.

Young southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) with onlookers on the beach at South Georgia in the Southern Ocean

Southern Royal Albatross (Diomedea Epomophora) sitting in nest with its chick. Campbell Island, Subantarctic New Zealand.

Young southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) on the beach at South Georgia in the Southern Ocean

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

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

Southern Royal Albatross (Diomedea Epomophora) sitting in nest with its chick. Campbell Island, Subantarctic New Zealand.

Brown Skua (Catharacta antarctica) chick on South Georgia Island in the Southern Ocean

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

Juvenile Galapagos brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis urinator) feeding in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

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.

Brown booby (Sula leucogaster) mother and chick, St. Peter and St. Paul's rocks, Brazil, South America

Young southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) on the beach at South Georgia in the Southern Ocean

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

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

Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) "normal" colored chicks, the parent is a leucistic adult on Devil Island near the Antarctic Peninsula

Adult Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) feeding chick in Antarctica

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

Juvenile Heermann's gull (Larus heermanni) on their breeding grounds on Isla Rasa in the middle Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico

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