Penguins

Spheniscidae

Taxonomy Version: IOC 10.2
family
Taxonomy Ranking
Level Rank Scientific Name
Penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere, especially in Antarctica. Highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have countershaded dark and white plumage, and their wings have evolved into flippers. Most penguins feed on krill, fish, squid and other forms of sealife caught while swimming underwater. They spend about half of their lives on land and half in the oceans.
  • Galapagos Penguin - Galápagos © Andrew Moon

  • Magellanic Penguin - Falkland Islands © Jason Protheroe

  • Emperor Penguin - Antarctica © Martin Casemore

  • Emperor Penguin - Antarctica © Martin Casemore

  • Galapagos Penguin - Galápagos © Ian Fulton

  • African Penguin - Western Cape © Paul Suter

Select Genus
Scientific Name English Name Rank Rarity (UK) Image
Other Information
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spheniscidae
British & Irish Records Archive

All Records (Accepted, Rejected, Pending). To filter/search please enter a phrase. E.g. To filter Rejected records, type Rejected into the Search box, all columns can be filtered.

British & Irish Records Archive is only available to our BirdGuides Ultimate or our BirdGuides Pro subscribers.
Please login or subscribe to view this information.