Where penguins live
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From Antarctic ice to tropical islands: a world beyond the snow.
Not just Antarctica
Penguins are associated with the Southern Hemisphere, but their homes are surprisingly varied. Emperor and Adélie penguins are closely associated with Antarctica. Other species breed on subantarctic islands, the coasts of South America and southern Africa, and in Australia and New Zealand. Galápagos penguins live near the equator, with some found just to its north.
The ocean connects their habitats
Every penguin species relies on the ocean for food. Productive waters can be cold even in a warm climate: the Humboldt Current supports penguins along Peru and Chile, while upwelling helps sustain Galápagos penguins. The availability of fish, krill, and squid matters as much as the temperature on land.
A place to raise a chick
Breeding habitats range from stable sea ice to pebble beaches, coastal burrows, rocky crevices, and forest. Emperor penguins generally breed on sea ice. Little penguins use coastal shelters, and Fiordland penguins can nest in forest. These different places provide shelter, space, and a route to the sea.
Sources & further reading
This is an introductory guide. Follow these references for research, detailed species information, and current assessments.
Penguins — Australian Antarctic Program ↗ Galápagos penguin — Galápagos Conservation Trust ↗