Penguins are fascinating creatures

Penguins are fascinating creatures. They generate crowds at zoos and aquariums, and they have attracted even more attention following the 2005 documentary, March of the Penguins. By learning more about these birds, you can create a set of interesting animal facts for kids to explore.
What are penguins?

There are 17 species of penguin; all have feathers, wings, are warm-blooded and lay eggs. While penguins are birds and have wings, they do not actually fly.
How do penguins stay safe if they can't fly?
Without the ability to fly, penguins have had to develop different evolutionary tactics to handle predators. The emperor penguin, for example, manages to stay and reproduce in the cold Arctic temperatures that no other animal stays around to face. This allows them to grow and thrive, reproducing when the dangers of predators are minimal. Similarly, penguins often live on islands free from many predators, and have strong swimming abilities to aid in escape.
Which penguins do we know the most about?
When asking someone to picture a penguin, an emperor penguin may be the first image to come to mind. These penguins were documented in March of the Penguins. The largest species of penguin, the emperor penguin is found in Antarctica.
What do penguins eat?
Emperor penguins are known to eat fish, krill, squid and silverfish. Other species of penguin survive on similar diets, depending largely on what's available in their habitat.

You can check out more animal facts for kids at your local library. Use these and other facts to create a game to test your child's new-found knowledge and get him interested in learning more about these quirky animals.
Do penguins only live in cold habitats?
Among the important animal facts for kids to grasp is that while penguins often are featured in film and on television in cold climates, they also live in warm regions. In fact, different species of penguins can be found in many parts of the Southern Hemisphere, from tropical islands to Antarctica. Different penguin species have different habitats. With 17 species of penguins, that means you are likely to find a penguin where you least expect one — even Hawaii!