ADÉLIE PENGUIN FACTS

Description:
Found in the Antarctic, Adélie penguins are the smallest type of penguin, weighing four and a half kilograms (10 pounds) and standing 30 to 50 centimeters tall. Like most penguins, their feathers are black and white, taking on the appearance of a tuxedo shirt. These birds also have white rings around their eyes and a red beak with a black tip.

Habitat:
Adélie penguins can be found all across the Antarctic as well as on the surrounding coastal islands. During the winter, the penguins live offshore in the sea. They build their nests out of small stones.

Behavior:
October is breeding season for the Adélies. During this time, thousands of Adélie penguins congregate in colonies on the rocky coasts. Adélie penguins generally have two eggs, and both parents take turns sitting on them.

Food Source:
These penguins are carnivores with a wide diet that includes krill, fish and squid. Efficient swimmers, the Adélies are capable of diving up to 575 feet (175 meters) for their food.

Population:
With a population of approximately two and a half million pairs, the Adélie penguins are the most widely spread penguin in the Antarctic.

Fun Facts:
•French explorer Admiral Durmont D’Urville named the Adélie penguin after his wife.
•Adélie penguins have been seen stealing stones from their neighbors' nests.