Giant king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) colony, Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Adult gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua), amongst king penguins in Gold Harbor, South Georgia, Polar Regions

King penguins and fur seal, Moltke Harbour, Royal Bay, South Georgia, South Atlantic

King penguins, St. Andrews Bay, South Georgia, South Atlantic

Portrait of a king penguin chick (Aptenodytes patagonica), Falkland Islands, South America

King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) breeding colony at Gold Harbor, South Georgia, Polar Regions

King penguins, Moltke Harbour, Royal Bay, South Georgia, South Atlantic

King penguin chick, Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, South Atlantic

King penguins, St. Andrews Bay, South Georgia, South Atlantic

King penguins, St. Andrews Bay, South Georgia, South Atlantic

Magellanic Penguin showing natural oil on its feathers at Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands, South Atlantic.

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

Iceberg and Adelie penguins, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Jackass penguin (African penguin) (Spheniscus demersus), Cape Town, South Africa, Africa

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

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

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

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

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

Giant king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) colony and a cruise ship, Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus) on an iceberg near Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Adult Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) and chicks on nest, Neko Harbour, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae), Petermann Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Polar Regions

King penguins (aptenodytes patagonicus) st andrews bay, south georgia, in snowy landscape, standing face to face

Adult Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) and chicks on nest, Neko Harbour, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) adult feeding chicks, Hannah Point, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus) adult and chick, Hannah Point, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Adult Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua), Neko Harbour, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Gentoo penguin (pygoscelis papua) ocean harbour, south georgia, standing on snow, close-up of feet.

Gentoo penguin chick (Pygoscelis papua), Hannah Point, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus), Orne Harbour, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Polar Regions

King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus), chick on beach, Gold Harbour, South Georgia, South America

King penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus), St. Andrews Bay, South Georgia, South America

Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri), Weddell Sea, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, 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.

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

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

Natural history staff from the Lindblad Expedition ship National Geographic Explorer doing various things in and around the Antarctic Peninsula

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

A lone adult Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) among a chinstrap penguin colony at Point Wild on Elephant Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

Macaroni Penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus) in Elsehul Bay on South Georgia Island in the Southern Ocean

Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) in Antarctica

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) colony on the Antarctic Peninsula

Weddell Seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) hauled out on the beach at Brown Bluff on the Antarctic Peninsula, southern Ocean

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

A rare sighting of a lone adult king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus), Barrentos Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Lone adult king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) among colonies of both gentoo and chinstrap penguins on Barrentos Island, Aitcho Island Group, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) near the Lindblad Expedition Ship National Geographic Explorer in Antarctica in the summer months.

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

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) colony on the Antarctic Peninsula

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) with admirer on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

Macaroni Penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus) in Elsehul Bay on South Georgia Island in the Southern Ocean

Lone adult king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) among colonies of both gentoo and chinstrap penguins on Barrentos Island, Aitcho Island Group, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

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

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

A lone molting adult chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) in tussock grass on Prion Island in the Bay of Isles near South Georgia Island, South Atlantic Ocean.

Lone adult king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) among colonies of both gentoo and chinstrap penguins on Barrentos Island, Aitcho Island Group, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

Macaroni Penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus) in Elsehul Bay on South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean, Antarctica

Subantarctic Skua, Stercorarius antarcticus, displaying amid King Penguin colony, Aptenodytes patagonicus, Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, South Atlantic Ocean.

Galapagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus). Galapagos.

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

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

Juvenile Galapagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus) in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador

A rare sighting of a lone adult king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus), Barrentos Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

Adult Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) on the Antarctic Peninsula.

Curious gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) in Antarctica

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) in surf conditions at Baily Head on Deception Island, South Shetland Island Group, Antarctica

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

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

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

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

A lone adult Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on an ice floe just north of Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) molting in Antarctica

Lone adult king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) among colonies of both gentoo and chinstrap penguins on Barrentos Island, Aitcho Island Group, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) chick in Antarctica

Lone adult king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) among colonies of both gentoo and chinstrap penguins on Barrentos Island, Aitcho Island Group, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

King Penguin, Aptenodytes patagonicus, displaying, with the mountains of South Georgia in the background, Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, South Atlantic Ocean.

Galapagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus). Galapagos.

Reflected sunlight on king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) breeding and nesting colonies on South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean.

Lone adult king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) among colonies of both gentoo and chinstrap penguins on Barrentos Island, Aitcho Island Group, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

King Penguin, Aptenodytes patagonicus, displaying to attract a mate, Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, South Atlantic Ocean.

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

Adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

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

Natural history staff from the Lindblad Expedition ship National Geographic Explorer doing various things in and around the Antarctic Peninsula

Macaroni Penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus) on South Georgia Island in the Southern Ocean

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

Macaroni Penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus) on South Georgia Island in the Southern Ocean

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) molting in Antarctica

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) molting in Antarctica

Lone adult king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) among colonies of both gentoo and chinstrap penguins on Barrentos Island, Aitcho Island Group, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica