Hobbies And Interests
Size And Physical Attributes
Emperor penguins stand out as the largest of all penguins. Adult emperor penguins reach an average height of 45 inches and up to 51 inches. They weigh up to 88 lbs. Like all penguins, they have a dark backside and a light stomach, which helps them blend in the ocean waters. They can be distinguished from other penguins by their black head, throat and chin and the yellow patches of feathers on each side of their chin.
Breeding Habits
Most penguins and other animals migrate away from Antarctica during the winter. Emperor penguins are the only animal that remains on Antarctica's ice throughout the winter. During the winter, they march in a line to a breeding ground where they mate. Female emperor penguins then lay one egg which the male penguins take care of -- not by sitting on the egg, but by balancing the egg on their feet and protecting it with a brood pouch, which is feathered skin. The female penguins leave their eggs and mates and take a hunting trip that can span over 50 miles. They then return two months later and regurgitate some of the food they have found for the chicks, and the male penguins then set out in search of food.
Film Appearances
Emperor penguins have starred in two feature films. In 2005, the documentary "March of the Penguins" showed their breeding ritual and included narration by Morgan Freeman. This film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary, Features. In 2006, Warner Brothers released "Happy Feet," an animated film about emperor penguins, which won an Academy Award for Best Animated Film.
Making News
In June 2011, an emperor penguin was spotted along the Peka Peka beach in New Zealand. This was only the second emperor penguin ever spotted in New Zealand; its arrival made international news. The penguin, named Happy Feet, had to undergo several operations due to swallowing sand, and the Wellington Zoo planned to release him to the southern ocean once he recovered.