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penguins_headerIf you only know about the Emperor, Adélie, and Rockhopper penguins thanks to popular movies and what’s often found in your local zoo, you can’t be blamed. But a voyage through the Chilean fjords, the Falkland Islands, and Antarctica will certainly broaden your penguin knowledge. Here’s a little primer before you go.

Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) also termed Peruvian Penguin, or Patranca, swimming in the clear water.

Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) also termed Peruvian Penguin, or Patranca, swimming in the clear water.

Magellanic Penguin

Look for these guys around the southern tip of South America or on the Falkland Islands.

Rockhopper penguin Falkland Island, travel to Antarctica

Rockhopper penguin Falkland Island, travel to Antarctica

Rockhopper Penguin

Rockhoppers are smaller than other crested penguins, weighing in at around 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg).

A happy chinstrap penguin in Antarctica.

Chinstrap Penguin

Like many of their penguin cousins, the Chinstrap feeds predominantly on krill.

Portrait of a Royal Penguin.

Portrait of a Royal Penguin.

Macaroni/Royal Penguin

Macaroni and Royal penguins are often considered distinct species, though DNA suggests Royals may be a variation of Macaronis.

King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) feeding chick. Falkland Islands.

King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) feeding chick. Falkland Islands.

King Penguin

Dense colonies of these large King penguins can be found up to 3/4 of a mile (1 km) inland on the Falkland Islands.

Emperor Penguin with chick Snow Hill, Antarctica 2010 on the icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov

Emperor Penguin with chick Snow Hill, Antarctica 2010 on the icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov

Emperor Penguin

Emperors and Kings may look the same in photos, but the Emperor stands 3.6 feet (1.1 m) tall. The King is only 3 feet (.94 m) tall.

pingino adelie / adelaida

Adélie Penguin

Adélies showed little fear of early explorers’ dog teams, sometimes to their great misfortune.

Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) on the ice hill

Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) on the ice hill

Gentoo Penguin

One of the northernmost penguins, look for the Gentoo around the Falkland Islands.

Peruvian Penguins cuddling

Humboldt Penguin

Found along the coast of Chile, these may be some of the first penguins you see.

Rare Birds

There are actually 17 different species of penguin recognized as living today. Of those, the African is only seen in southern Africa, the Yellow-eyed, Snares, Little, Fjordland, and Erect-crested are found on or near New Zealand, and the Galapagos is only found on the Galapagos Islands.

To visit the parts of the world to meet with these stunning birds, see Krayton Travel for options