Penguins can’t fly and they waddle instead of walking, but underwater, they are incredibly agile swimmers!
There’s a good reason for it, too. They have to catch their food, and since their diet is tied to the water, they have to be quick and nimble.
But do they only eat fish, or is their diet more varied?
The Diet Of Penguins
Birders usually see penguins at their breeding colonies. The birds stand around but don’t do much else. However, that’s only because those penguins are resting and socializing.
Watch them in the water, and it’s another story! Penguins are highly aquatic birds, and most penguin action happens under the waves. These birds need cold marine habitats, but not because they simply love cold weather. Penguins live in places with cold water because those habitats are chock full of food!
Cold waters host lots of nutrients and krill that support huge numbers of fish, marine mammals, and seabirds.
All penguins catch their food by diving underwater, chasing their prey and catching it with their beak. Some feed near the surface but a few species dive and swim more than 300 feet below the surface!
Penguins forage for a variety of fish, especially lanternfish species and small schooling fish. They also catch krill, and crustaceans, particularly species with thick beaks like the Macaroni Penguin.
The big King and Emperor Penguins usually feed on larger fish than smaller penguin species and might also catch more squid. The Emperor, in particular, is known for swimming under ice flows to pick fish floating or trying to hide under the ice.
What do baby penguins eat?
The diets of baby penguins include the same things their parents eat. However, like many birds, adult penguins feed their nestlings regurgitated food. For most penguin species, after their eggs hatch, both adults take turns feeding their babies.
While one parent goes to sea to catch krill, small fish, and other small sea creatures, the other parent protects the babies and keeps them warm. When the parent returns, they regurgitate partially digested food directly into the baby’s mouth.
That parent then stays with the nestling while the other one forages.
To grow, the babies need a good amount of food on a regular basis, and have to eat things like sea crustaceans and certain types of fish. If they don’t eat enough or don’t get the right types of food, the baby penguins will perish.
The Emperor Penguin also feeds its nestling a special type of substance known as “crop milk”. This is only produced by the male, who feeds his baby for a week at most.
This special penguin milk looks a bit like cheese curds and is made of protein and fats. He feeds it to his nestling to keep the bird alive until the mother returns from the sea.
Eating Habits & Other Fun Facts
- Emperor Penguins can dive as deep as 1,700 feet and stay underwater for 20 minutes to forage for squid!
- Penguins depend on cold water for survival. During warm water El Niño events, populations of Galapagos Penguins can drop by 50%.
- Northern Rockhopper Penguins have become endangered in part because of overfishing for two important prey items; squid and octopus.
- Galapagos Penguins dive under schools of fish and then swim up to catch them. This behavior drives fish to the surface and helps Brown Noddies and other birds also prey on them.
- To catch more prey and possibly avoid competition, male African Penguins forage deeper than females.
- Penguins have special glands that help remove excess salt they ingest from eating marine creatures.
- Gentoo Penguins swim faster than any other bird. When foraging and moving between areas, they can reach speeds of 22 mph!
- To help catch their slippery prey, penguins have strong jaws and mouths with sharp, spiny features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are penguins fully carnivorous?
Penguins are fully carnivorous. They only feed on fish, crustaceans, krill, and other sea creatures.
Do penguins eat crab?
Yes, penguins eat crab. Some species eat more crabs than others, especially species of pelagic crabs.
Do penguins eat octopuses?
Yes, penguins eat octopuses. Most penguin species eat fish and various crustaceans, including krill, but octopuses are also an important part of the diets of Northern Rockhopper Penguins and some other species.