Mochi Isle
Penguin warmth · Aurora IcefieldScience for kidsHow do penguins stay warm in the cold?
In short: Penguins have short, dense, overlapping feathers with fluffy down underneath that traps warm air, plus a thick layer of fat under the skin. It is like wearing a waterproof puffer jacket over a blanket. Huddling together helps too.
How it works
Penguin feathers are short and stiff, packed tightly and overlapping like roof tiles. Penguins spread oil from a gland near the tail over them to keep out water and wind. Underneath is a layer of fluffy down that traps air, and because air carries heat poorly, body heat stays in.
Under the skin, penguins have a thick layer of fat that keeps them warm and stores energy. Their feet and flippers have a clever blood system too: warm blood flowing out passes its heat to cold blood flowing back, so little body heat is lost through feet standing on ice.
In winter, emperor penguins in Antarctica huddle in big groups, slowly taking turns in the warm middle. But not all penguins live on ice. Many live on temperate coasts, and the Galápagos penguin even lives around the equator. Almost all wild penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere.
Where to see it in New Zealand
New Zealand is a penguin hotspot. The kororā, or little penguin, is the world's smallest penguin and lives along many of our coasts, with a well-known colony at Oamaru. The rare hoiho, or yellow-eyed penguin, can be seen on the Otago Peninsula, and the tawaki, or Fiordland crested penguin, lives in the south-west.
Try it together
Make a 'blubber glove': fill a resealable plastic bag with vegetable shortening or lard, push an empty bag into the middle and slide your hand inside it. Dip that hand and your bare hand into icy water for a few seconds. Which feels cold first?
Kids also ask
Why don't penguins' feet freeze on the ice?
The blood vessels in their legs pass heat back into the body, so the blood reaching their feet is cool. That means little heat is lost, while the feet stay just warm enough not to freeze.
Do penguins and polar bears meet in the wild?
No. Polar bears live in the Arctic, while almost all wild penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere, so they are separated by most of the planet. They can only meet in zoos.
Can penguins get too hot?
Yes. Penguins in warmer places pant, hold their flippers out to lose heat, or shelter in shady burrows and bushes. Their insulation is so good that they need ways to cool down too.
In the game, “Penguin warmth” is a nature card on Aurora Icefield.
Your child finds this card by reaching the right place or meeting the right weather on the island, and lights it up by answering the question on the back. Tap the button below and the game shows your child which island it is on and how to find it. Mochi Isle is a browser learning game for ages 5 to 18; the main island and the daily lesson are free.
Find “Penguin warmth” on the island ↗ All cards from Aurora Icefield