Discovery station Penguins of the World and Expedition wreck

Some penguin species in the Antarctic have loud, booming calls to communicate over long distances in icy winds. In warmer regions, their calls often resemble those of donkeys. Even the smallest of penguins can make so much noise. Every penguin family has its own distinctive calls, which is why chicks and their parents can find their way back to each other even in large colonies. 

There are 19 different penguin species. They all live in the southern hemisphere.

The penguin’s hybrid plumage

The penguin’s plumage works efficiently as insulation, trapping air and minimising heat loss even in extreme weather conditions. It is wind-resistant and remains smooth and compact even in high winds. This is made possible by a unique hybrid plumage.

It consists of stiff outer feathers (1), which overlap with neighbouring feathers like roof tiles, thus forming a waterproof and wind-resistant outer layer. The fluffy down feathers (2) beneath form a layer of insulation.

Additional downy feathers (3) reinforce the insulation (5) against the cold, with a thick layer of fat (4) beneath the plumage intensifying this.

Once a year, usually just after the breeding season, penguins shed their entire plumage, known as moulting. A new set of feathers is important because old, worn-out feathers lose their protective function.

• During this time, they lose up to 50 per cent of their body weight, which is why they build up large fat reserves beforehand.
• When moulting, penguins cannot go into the water to hunt for food and are not very well protected against the cold.
• Moulting takes up a lot of energy, but is vital for their survival.