Emperor penguin Facts for Kids

Emperor penguins live in Antarctica, where it is very cold. They can't fly, but they swim very well. A dad keeps the egg warm on his feet.

Emperor penguins raise their chicks in the middle of the Antarctic winter. After the mother lays her egg, the father balances it on his feet under a warm fold of skin while she goes to sea to feed. A big crowd of penguins huddles together and takes turns standing on the windy outside.

Emperor penguins are the largest penguins. They dive deeper than any other bird to catch fish and squid, holding their breath for a long time. In winter they walk a long way across the sea ice to their breeding ground. Because they need sea ice to raise their chicks, scientists watch them closely as the ice changes.