Learn All About the 18 Different Penguin Species

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Plus, fascinating factoids about these adorable flightless birds

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IN THIS ARTICLE

1 Macaroni

2 Emperor

3 King

4 Gentoo

5 Chinstrap

6 Adélie

7 Royal

8 Magellanic

9 Southern Rockhopper

10 Northern Rockhopper

11 Fiordland

12 Yellow-eyed

13 Erect-crested

14 Snares

15 African

16 Galápagos

17 Little Blue

18 Humboldt

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Co-authored by Amber Crain

Last Updated: March 18, 2026 Fact Checked

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With their tuxedo-like plumage and adorable waddle, penguins are easily one of the world’s most fascinating birds. You might be surprised to learn there are 18 different species of penguins, and some of them actually live in tropical climates! Intrigued yet? In this article, we’ll tell you all about these dapper little guys, including what they look like, where they live, and how they survive some of the most inhospitable climates in the world.

18 Species of Penguins

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There are 18 different species of penguins from all over the world. The ice-dwelling Antarctic penguins are probably the most famous, but there are also penguin species that live on the coasts of South America, New Zealand, Australia, and even Africa! These flightless aquatic birds have flippers instead of wings.

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1

Macaroni

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1. 
   Macaroni (Eudyptes chrysolophus) penguins are the most common of all the penguin species. But that doesn’t mean they’re boring! They have dramatic yellow crests right above their eyes that look like silly, bushy eyebrows. Macaronis also have sharp claws that help them scale cliffs so they can build their nests far away from predators.

   • Where they live: Sub-Antarctic islands and the Antarctic Peninsula.
   • Lifespan: 8-15 years.
   • Fun fact: “Macaroni” was 18th century slang for English dandies who wore gaudy clothing (not unlike this dapper penguin’s dramatic yellow crest and fancy “tuxedo.”)
   • What do you call a group of penguins? In the water, a group of penguins is called a raft. When they’re on dry land, a group is called a waddle!
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2

Emperor

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1. 
   Emperors (Aptenodytes forsteri) are the largest of all 18 penguin species, standing about 4 feet tall, and also the least common Antarctic species. They breed and raise their young on the surface of the frozen ocean along the coast of Antarctica. Emperors are excellent divers, able to go deep and stay under for 3-6 minutes before coming up for air.

   • Where they live: Continental Antarctica.
   • Lifespan: 15-20 years.
   • Fun fact: Emperors are the most famous penguins! Most of the penguins you see in movies (like Happy Feet) are emperors (although adélies, gentoos, and magellanics make occasional cameos, too).

3

King

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1. 
   Kings (Aptenodytes patagonicus) are the second largest penguin species (after the emperors), standing at about 3 feet tall. Of all the different penguin species, kings spend the most time in the sea. Their breeding process, from start to finish, takes about 14 months (which is unusually long for a penguin!) Most penguin species hop to move around, but kings don’t–they walk very slowly with an adorable little shuffle.

   • Where they live: The sub-Antarctic islands in the Southern Ocean.
   • Lifespan: 25 years.
   • Fun fact: King penguins can drink seawater–they have a special gland that allows them to filter the salt safely from their blood.
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4

Gentoo

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1. 
   Gentoos (Pygoscelis papua) are the third largest penguin species, after emperors and kings, standing about 2-3 feet tall. They build their nests on the beach with stones (in fact, male gentoos often give females stones as gifts during courtship). These penguins are known to be very gentle with their mates, but are extremely territorial with everyone else. They defend their turf aggressively.

   • Where they live: Antarctic Peninsula, Subantarctic islands, southern continental coasts and islands, South Atlantic islands
   • Lifespan: 15-20 years.
   • Fun fact: Gentoos are the fastest underwater birds in the world! They can swim up to 22 mph.

5

Chinstrap

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1. 
   Chinstraps (Pygoscelis antarctica) are very social and live in massive, city-like colonies. They have a narrow band of black feathers right under their cheeks that goes from ear to ear (which is how they got the name “chinstrap.”) They often “toboggan” on land and ice, which means they lie on their stomachs and slide across the terrain, using their feet and flippers to push themselves forward. So cute! Chinstraps can also climb using all four limbs and jump really far to reach footholds.

   • Where they live: The Antarctic Peninsula and the islands in the South Atlantic Ocean.
   • Lifespan: 15-20 years.
   • Fun fact: Because of their steady diet of mostly krill, chinstrap penguins have pink poop!
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6

Adélie

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1. 
   Adélies (Pygoscelis adeliae) live in dense breeding colonies with thousands of other penguins. Their breeding season and courtship rituals are one of the shortest of all the penguin species. After the baby penguins hatch, they join “nurseries” and live with the other hatchlings. Hatchlings are very vulnerable (only about two-thirds of them survive), so staying together with their caretakers increases their chances of survival.

   • Where they live: North Antarctic pack ice during the winter; continental coastline and Antarctic islands in the summer.
   • Lifespan: 10-20 years.
   • Fun fact: Adélies are known to steal pebbles from each other so they can use them for their own nests. Rude! (But also hilarious).

7

Royal

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1. 
   Royals (Eudyptes schlegeli) are another crested penguin type with eye-catching yellow plumes on their heads, and they’re very similar to macaronis in appearance (although they have white faces, while macaronis have black faces). They’re mid-sized penguins–bigger than macaronis, but smaller than emperors, kings, and gentoos.

   • Where they live: Australia's sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island; Bishop and Clerk Islands in the southwest Pacific.
   • Lifespan: 15-20 years.
   • Fun fact: During the breeding season, royals lay two eggs. The egg that was laid second usually hatches to be a larger chick and is typically the only survivor. Some royals even kick the first-laid egg out of the nest before it even hatches. Harsh!
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8

Magellanic

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1. 
   Magellanics (Spheniscus magellanicus) have distinctive black bands running across their chests and were named after the famous explorer Ferdinand Magellan. Unlike many other types of penguins, magellanics are “warm weather penguins” that live along the South American coast. To cool off, they pant, shed feathers, and stretch out their flippers so they can enjoy a nice breeze. They’re said to be very shy around humans.

   • Where they live: South American coast (Chile, Argentina, Falkland Islands).
   • Lifespan: 15-25 years.
   • Fun fact: Magellanic penguins form lifelong monogamous partnerships (aww). They reach sexual maturity at age 5, which means some “marriages” could last up to 20 years!

9

Southern Rockhopper

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1. 
   Southern rockhoppers (Eudyptes chrysocome) are one of the smallest penguin species, reaching a max height of 2 feet. They have white fronts, black heads and backs, bright orange beaks, and feathery, bright yellow eyebrows. Southern rockhoppers got their names because they live on the rocky shores of sub-Antarctic islands and hop among the rocks. Unfortunately, their population has dwindled rapidly (by almost 90%).

   • Where they live: Sub-Antarctic islands.
   • Lifespan: ~10 years.
   • Fun fact: Rockhoppers have feisty, independent natures. They fearlessly leap from rocky cliffs and can jump up to 6 feet.
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10

Northern Rockhopper

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1. 
   Northern rockhoppers (Eudyptes moseleyi) are one of the smallest penguin species. They’re known for being sassy, fearless, and loud! They have blood red eyes and long, yellow crests that look like spiky mohawks, giving them a punk rock look. Unlike most other species, northern rockhoppers are aggressive and territorial. On land, they move very slowly, hopping from rock to rock since they can’t slide on their bellies. However, they’re rapid swimmers and deep divers.

   • Where they live: Rocky islands in the South Atlantic (Tristan da Cunha, Gough Island) and Indian Oceans (St. Paul, Amsterdam Islands).
   • Lifespan: ~10 years.
   • Fun fact: Northern rockhoppers squawk violently at each other and often get into flipper-slapping fights. Oi! They are truly the punk rockers of the penguin world.

11

Fiordland

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1. 
   Fiordland penguins (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus) are a smaller species that live in the warm rain forests of New Zealand. They have distinctive yellow crests and less dense feathers than other penguins because they don’t need to keep themselves warm. They prefer to build their nests in isolated caves, bushes, and tree stumps. They’re also loud, and sound like donkeys when they communicate!

   • Where they live: New Zealand.
   • Lifespan: 10-20 years.
   • Fun fact: These penguins are known for shaking their yellow crests to show off and attract mates. That milkshake brings all boys to the yard!
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12

Yellow-eyed

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1. 
   As their name suggests, yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes) have unique pale yellow eyes. They also have a yellow band that starts at their eyes and goes all the way around their head. They live in New Zealand, where they’re also called hoiho (which means “noise shouter”) because of their loud calls.

   • Where they live: New Zealand.
   • Lifespan: 8-23 years.
   • Fun fact: Yellow-eyed penguins are one of the rarest species in the world. They’re also believed to be the most ancient of all the existing penguin species.

13

Erect-crested

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1. 
   Erect-crested penguins (Eudyptes sclateri) have vibrant, stiff yellow plumes on their heads that stick straight up (hence the name). They’re rarely seen, but they’re known to be very social and form massive nest colonies, sometimes with rockhopper penguins among them. They can climb steep cliffs and tend to shake their crests and shout at each other as a mating ritual.

   • Where they live: New Zealand.
   • Lifespan: 15-20 years.
   • Fun fact: Erect-crested penguins live where they have no mammal predators. This means they can go on land without a care in the world!
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14

Snares

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1. 
   Snares (Eudyptes robustus) are a medium-sized species with a yellow crest, very similar to the fiordland penguins in appearance. These forest-dwellers dig bowl-shaped nests in the ground, either under tall tree daisies (which sound so picturesque!) or on rocky slopes, and line them with twigs. They’re very social and noisy, and their unique calls sound similar to a braying donkey.

   • Where they live: The Snares Islands of New Zealand.
   • Lifespan: 15-20 years.
   • Fun fact: Snares have a very charming mating ritual where the male stretches his flippers out toward the female, and then they bow to each other.

15

African

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1. 
   African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) live in South Africa along the rocky shoreline. They have a distinctive patch of pink skin above each eye, which helps them regulate their temperature in Africa’s warm climate. They live in large colonies and are very fast swimmers. Unfortunately, this penguin species is also critically endangered.

   • Where they live: South African coast.
   • Lifespan: 10-15 years.
   • Fun fact: Each African penguin communicates with a vocalization that is unique to them, setting them apart from all others in the colony.
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16

Galápagos

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1. 
   The Galápagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus) is one of the smallest and rarest in the world. Scientists believe they may have migrated to Ecuador from the Antarctic Islands–which is quite a drastic change in climate! They’ve adapted by molting twice a year and learning to seek shelter from the sun on the island’s craggy coastline. Since they can’t sweat, they pant to cool down (like dogs do) and stand with their flippers extended to release heat.

   • Where they live: Galápagos Islands in Ecuador.
   • Lifespan: 15-20 years.
   • Fun fact: The Galápagos penguin mates for life and is the only species that lives and breeds north of the Earth’s equator.

17

Little Blue

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1. 
   The little blue penguin (Eudyptula minor) is the smallest penguin species in the world, reaching a max height of 1 foot. When it’s time for them to mate in the spring, these little guys slowly waddle onto the shores of New Zealand and Australia, travel inland about a mile, and then climb up to 1,000 feet to find the perfect spot to build their nests. That’s dedication!

   • Where they live: Along the coastlines of New Zealand and southern Australia.
   • Lifespan: 6-7 years.
   • Fun fact: In Australia, they’re called “fairy penguins" because of their small stature and enchanting blue color.
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18

Humboldt

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1. 
   Humboldts (Spheniscus humboldti) are medium-sized penguins, standing at 2 feet high. They live along the subtropical Pacific coasts of Chile and Peru and spend most of their time in the water, only coming on land to rest and breed. They are monogamous and can recognize their partners just by hearing their vocalizations. The rocky South American coast is known for having large deposits of guano (bat poop), which doesn’t seem to bother them.

   • Where they live: Along the Pacific coast of Chile and Peru.
   • Lifespan: 15-20 years.
   • Fun fact: This species doesn’t mind living among all that bat poop–in fact, they actually prefer to build their nests in guano burrows!

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