Record
The emperor penguin is the largest living penguin species.
Adults can weigh up to about 40 kilograms at the start of the breeding season, making them larger than other living penguins.
Aptenodytes forsteri
Emperor Penguin Facts
The emperor penguin is the largest living penguin and one of the most extreme bird species on Earth. It survives Antarctic winter, breeds on sea ice, dives deep into the Southern Ocean, and uses social huddling plus specialized anatomy to conserve heat.
Scientific name
Aptenodytes forsteri
Animal group
Bird
Habitat
Antarctic sea ice and Southern Ocean waters
Diet
Mostly fish, plus squid and krill
Size
Largest living penguin species
Conservation status
Endangered in Australian Antarctic Program account
Explained facts
10 Interesting Emperor Penguin Facts
Reproduction
Emperor penguins breed during the Antarctic winter.
They are famous for breeding in some of the harshest weather on Earth. This unusual timing requires strong cold adaptations and coordinated parental care.
Reproduction
Male emperor penguins incubate the egg on their feet.
After the female lays a single egg, the male balances it on his feet beneath a brood pouch and fasts while keeping the egg warm through winter.
Record
Emperor penguins can dive hundreds of meters deep.
The Australian Antarctic Program reports most foraging dives at 150 to 250 meters, with the deepest recorded dive reaching 565 meters.
Record
The longest recorded emperor penguin dive was 22 minutes.
Most dives are much shorter, often a few minutes, but this record shows how well adapted emperor penguins are for underwater foraging.
Adaptation
Emperor penguins huddle to stay warm.
Huddling reduces heat loss in extreme cold. Birds rotate through the huddle so individuals are not stuck on the cold outer edge all the time.
Adaptation
Their blood vessels help recycle body heat.
Arteries and veins lie close together so blood going to the feet, wings, and bill is cooled, while returning blood is warmed before it reaches the body core.
Habitat
Many emperor penguin colonies form on fast ice.
Fast ice is sea ice attached to land, islands, or grounded icebergs. Stable breeding ice matters because egg incubation and chick rearing take time.
Diet
Emperor penguins mostly eat fish, but also take squid and krill.
Their diet changes with season and food availability. Fish are often important, with squid and krill adding variety in the Southern Ocean food web.
Behavior
Emperor penguins are not strongly territorial during breeding.
Their survival depends on huddling, so defending spaced-out territories would work against one of their most important cold-weather behaviors.
What is an emperor penguin?
The emperor penguin is a flightless seabird that lives in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. It is the largest of the living penguin species and is closely related to the king penguin.
Its life cycle is strongly tied to sea ice. Adults breed in colonies around Antarctica and forage in cold ocean waters where fish, squid, and krill are available.
Appearance
Emperor penguins have black backs, white bellies, and yellow-orange markings around the neck and head. Their dense feather layers, body fat, and compact shape help them survive severe cold.
They are much larger than most penguins, and adults can weigh up to 40 kilograms at the beginning of the breeding season.
Habitat and range
Emperor penguins breed in colonies around the Antarctic continent. Many colonies are on fast ice, which is sea ice attached to land, islands, or grounded icebergs.
Adults travel between breeding colonies and the ocean, where they dive for food. Stable sea ice is important because breeding takes months.
Diet and diving
Emperor penguins eat mostly fish, with squid and krill also in the diet. They are powerful divers that often forage between about 150 and 250 meters deep.
The Australian Antarctic Program reports a deepest recorded dive of 565 meters and a longest recorded dive of 22 minutes.
Huddling and social life
In winter, emperor penguins huddle together to reduce heat loss. Individuals shift through the group so birds take turns in warmer and colder positions.
This huddling behavior is one reason the species can breed in conditions that would overwhelm most birds.
Breeding and chick care
Emperor penguins are famous for breeding during the Antarctic winter. The female lays one egg, and the male incubates it on his feet under a warm brood pouch while fasting.
After the chick hatches, both parents take turns caring for the chick and foraging at sea.
Cold adaptations
Emperor penguins have dense scale-like feathers, body fat, small bills and flippers relative to body size, and heat-exchange systems that reduce heat loss from feet, wings, and bill.
Their nasal chambers also recover heat that would otherwise be lost during breathing.
Conservation
The future of emperor penguins is closely linked to Antarctic sea ice. The Australian Antarctic Program describes projected population decline over coming generations because of climate change impacts.
Monitoring colonies, sea ice, and foraging areas helps researchers understand how environmental change may affect this species.
Emperor Penguin FAQ
Where do emperor penguins live?
Emperor penguins live in Antarctica and forage in the Southern Ocean. They breed in colonies around the Antarctic continent, often on fast ice.
What do emperor penguins eat?
They mostly eat fish, but they also eat squid and krill. Their exact menu changes by season and location.
How do emperor penguins keep warm?
They use dense feathers, body fat, compact body parts, heat-exchange blood flow, and social huddling to conserve heat.
Do male emperor penguins really incubate the egg?
Yes. The male balances the egg on his feet under a brood pouch and fasts while incubating it through the Antarctic winter.
Sources
- Emperor penguin - Australian Antarctic Program. Accessed 2026-07-15.
- Taxon Profile: Aptenodytes forsteri - Australian Antarctic Data Centre. Accessed 2026-07-15.