Hobbies And Interests
Serial Monogamy
Penguins do not have only one mate for life; they do, however, have only one mate per breeding season. This is referred to a "serial monogamy." When the breeding season is over and the male leaves, he leaves the child rearing to his mate. When he returns for the next season, he may take another partner if he is unable to find his initial partner.
Breeding Colonies
Penguins, in general, breed in colonies -- except for two species, the yellowed-eyed and Fjordland penguins. These colonies are usually fairly large, but can vary significantly in size from about a hundred to several thousand pairs. Within the colonies the penguins interact socially, including competing with one another for breeding privileges and cooperating for food production.
Egg Laying
The female lays the eggs -- usually two -- in a clutch, which is a nest of eggs. Both the male and female care for the eggs during the incubation process -- except for in the case of the emperor species. The male emperor penguin incubates the egg on his own. While one of the parents incubates the egg, the other obtains food for itself and its partner from the sea.
Egg Description
Penguin eggs are usually white or blue-green, with a variety of shapes and sizes depending on the species. Some of the larger eggs -- for instance, those of emperor penguins -- are about 4.5 inches and 18 ounces, while some smaller eggs -- such as the eggs of the Adélie penguin -- are only 2 inches and 5 ounces. Penguins in the the Eudyptuia, Spheniscus and Pygoscelis genera lay a first egg that is larger than the second.