Penguins, all eighteen of them.
From the emperor, which breeds through the Antarctic winter, to a penguin that lives on the equator. Every fact traced to a source and dated where it can change, plus games, printables and an eraser called Useless who has been issued a very small scarf.
The short version
Penguins are flightless birds, highly adapted for life in the sea: excellent swimmers that can dive to great depths. Australian Antarctic Division: Penguins Penguins spend up to 75 percent of their lives in the water. Smithsonian Ocean: Penguins
Penguins are only found in the Southern Hemisphere. The biggest numbers are on Antarctic coasts and sub-Antarctic islands. Australian Antarctic Division: Penguins Penguins are Southern Hemisphere birds, though people often confuse them with the black-and-white puffins of the north. Smithsonian Ocean: Penguins
They come in many sizes. The emperor is the largest penguin. The Australian Antarctic Division says adults can weigh up to 40 kg at the start of the breeding season. Australian Antarctic Division: Emperor penguin The Department of Conservation calls the little penguin the world’s smallest penguin: just over 25 cm and about 1 kg. NZ Department of Conservation: Little penguin/kororā
And several are in trouble. African penguin: Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List (last assessed 2024). Population trend: decreasing. IUCN Red List: African penguin · checked 27 Oct 2026 That’s why this site has a whole page on threats and the Red List.
- The Australian Antarctic Division counts 18 species of penguins. 5 of them live in Antarctica, and another 4 live on sub-Antarctic islands. Australian Antarctic Division: Penguins · checked 27 Oct 2026
- The Smithsonian says there is still debate over the number of species, but it’s generally agreed there are between 17 and 19, split into six genera. Smithsonian Ocean: Penguins · checked 27 Oct 2026
Experts still debate where one species ends and the next begins. Every disagreement we found →
Start somewhere
Bodies, swimming & sensesFeathers like a wetsuit, a salt filter above each eye, and no sweet tooth.
All 18 speciesFrom the emperor to the little penguin, with dated Red List statuses.
Eggs, huddles & chicksThe male emperor’s winter, kings with eggs on their feet, and crèches.
Where penguins liveAntarctic ice, New Zealand forests, African beaches and the equator.
Threats & the Red ListSea ice, krill, dogs and set nets, and what the IUCN says.
Giant penguins of the pastA penguin the size of a small bear, and the bird that first had the name.
Tile photos are credited on their pages and on the credits page.
The penguin that breeds in winter
Emperor penguins don’t just survive the Antarctic winter: they breed in it, during the worst weather on Earth. Australian Antarctic Division: Emperor penguin The British Antarctic Survey says the male emperor incubates the single egg for 9 weeks without eating, living off a thick fat reserve. British Antarctic Survey: Penguins
And the one on the equator
Galápagos penguins are the most northerly penguins, living on the Galápagos Islands on the equator. Smithsonian Ocean: Penguins Meet them both, and sixteen more, in all 18 species.
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Penguin printables
Fact-checked PDFs in A4 and US Letter.
Penguin Species Fact Cards
Eighteen fact cards, one for every species the Australian Antarctic Division counts, with dated Red List statuses, a sorting game and a species tracker
Penguin Maths Worksheets
Real penguin numbers for ages 8 to 12: heights, dive depths, huddles and swim speeds, with every answer worked out
Penguin Life Cycle Pack
The emperor’s winter year, egg-to-sea sequencing cards, a crèche page and a compare-the-parents chart, with answer keys
Penguin Activity & Colouring Pack
Colouring pages, a maze, word search and spot-the-difference puzzles for ages 4 to 9
Penguin Facts Poster Set
Six fact-checked posters, from the emperor’s winter huddle to the penguin on the equator
Penguin Quiz & Word Puzzles Pack
A crossword, code breaker, fill-the-gap facts, number match, myth busters and a 16-question quiz, with answer keys
Best valueThe Complete Penguin Printables Bundle
All six packs plus a guide, A4 and US Letter, in one download.