Kkkrueew! A honking cry fills the air. It’s the sound of thousands of king penguins. T ey live halfway between Antarctica and South America. It’s very cold here. T e penguins don’t mind. Some


even dive into the icy ocean! T at’s because penguins like the water. T ere are other odd things about


these birds, too. T ey have wings and feathers, but can’t fly. T ey waddle instead of walk. T ey swim like fish. T e way penguins look and act


are adaptations. T ey help penguins survive in extreme environments. To see how, start with their feathers.


Fantastic Feathers Like all birds, a penguin has feathers. T at’s what makes it a bird. Yet a penguin’s feathers aren’t light and fluff y. T ey are stiff and oily. Penguin feathers keep out the


cold. T ey lock in air close to the bird’s skin. T is trapped air keeps the penguin warm. Feathers help a penguin stay warm even when temperatures plunge below zero.


Fun Fact: A penguin slows its heartbeat when it dives. That way, it


can stay under the water longer. 4 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER


These penguins dive deep in the ocean.


This bird’s body lets it survive in extreme places. PENGUIN PARTS


FEATHERS are short and oily. They trap warm air. They also keep out cold water and wind.


BODY SHAPE helps a penguin swim fast. Water fl ows over it easily.


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