briefly describe how an egg turns into an independent penguin.
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Penguins are some of the most unusual birds on earth. These semi-aquatic, flightless hunters can thrive in nearly any climate, from the tropics to the tundra. The penguin life cycle is fascinatingly intricate, especially that of emperor penguins. These birds are one of the few animal species that can live and breed in frigid Antarctica.
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Like most seabirds, penguins tend to be long-lived. They may take three to eight years to reach sexual maturity.
With some of the smaller species, breeding may begin at three to four years, but most larger species are not accomplished breeders until much later. On average, breeding does not begin until the fifth year, and a few males do not breed until the eighth year.
Breeding seasons differ from species to species.
Most species have an annual breeding season - spring through summer.
The king penguin has the longest breeding cycle of all the penguin species, lasting 14 to 16 months. A female king penguin may produce a chick during alternate breeding seasons.
Emperor penguins breed annually during the antarctic winter, June through August.
During the emperor breeding season, air temperature may drop to -60°C (-76°F) and winds may reach speeds up to 200 kph (124 mph.)
For most of the winter, antarctic penguins live in an environment of darkness or half-light. Why emperors breed during the harshest season of the year is unknown, but some scientists speculate that when the chicks become independent five months later (in January and February, the antarctic summer), environmental conditions are more favorable for the young birds.
The little penguin breeds throughout the year and has the shortest breeding cycle, which lasts about 50 days.
Some of the temperate penguins, like the Humboldt and the African, tend to nest throughout the year.
Courtship.
Courtship varies among species. It generally begins with both visual and auditory displays. In many species, males display first to establish a nest site and then to attract a mate. Not all species exhibit all displays, but in general there are 3 distinct types of displays.
Ecstatic. Also called trumpeting, head swinging or advertisement, this display establishes possession of a nest site, attracts females and warns other males to stay away. Males at the nest site commonly exhibit the ecstatic display before females arrive or when building nests. The male may dip its head low and then stretch its head
and neck upward with flippers held outstretched and squawk or “bray”. Male penguins can perform the ecstatic display in a sitting or standing position. Some species, like the Adélie, chinstrap and crested penguins, may swing their head or flap their flippers while calling.
Mutual ecstatic. Once paired, male and female penguins perform the mutual ecstatic display together. This display seems to strengthen the pair bond, coordinate nesting behavior, and advertise a nesting territory. The mutual display is similar to the ecstatic display—head and neck stretched upward with a braying vocal.
Crested, brush-tailed, and temperate penguins, stand facing each other, performing the action in unison. Within these species there are some behavior differences. For example, gentoos generally hold their outstretched head and flippers still, while macaronis flap flippers and roll their heads from side to side.
Emperor penguins have a unique mutual display position: Standing face-to-face, individuals hold their heads down with bills pointed to the ground while braying. Mutual displays continue throughout the breeding season, often taking place at the nest when parents switch places for egg incubation and chick feeding.
With some of the smaller species, breeding may begin at three to four years, but most larger species are not accomplished breeders until much later. On average, breeding does not begin until the fifth year, and a few males do not breed until the eighth year.
Breeding seasons differ from species to species.
Most species have an annual breeding season - spring through summer.
The king penguin has the longest breeding cycle of all the penguin species, lasting 14 to 16 months. A female king penguin may produce a chick during alternate breeding seasons.
Emperor penguins breed annually during the antarctic winter, June through August.
During the emperor breeding season, air temperature may drop to -60°C (-76°F) and winds may reach speeds up to 200 kph (124 mph.)
For most of the winter, antarctic penguins live in an environment of darkness or half-light. Why emperors breed during the harshest season of the year is unknown, but some scientists speculate that when the chicks become independent five months later (in January and February, the antarctic summer), environmental conditions are more favorable for the young birds.
The little penguin breeds throughout the year and has the shortest breeding cycle, which lasts about 50 days.
Some of the temperate penguins, like the Humboldt and the African, tend to nest throughout the year.
Courtship.
Courtship varies among species. It generally begins with both visual and auditory displays. In many species, males display first to establish a nest site and then to attract a mate. Not all species exhibit all displays, but in general there are 3 distinct types of displays.
Ecstatic. Also called trumpeting, head swinging or advertisement, this display establishes possession of a nest site, attracts females and warns other males to stay away. Males at the nest site commonly exhibit the ecstatic display before females arrive or when building nests. The male may dip its head low and then stretch its head
and neck upward with flippers held outstretched and squawk or “bray”. Male penguins can perform the ecstatic display in a sitting or standing position. Some species, like the Adélie, chinstrap and crested penguins, may swing their head or flap their flippers while calling.
Mutual ecstatic. Once paired, male and female penguins perform the mutual ecstatic display together. This display seems to strengthen the pair bond, coordinate nesting behavior, and advertise a nesting territory. The mutual display is similar to the ecstatic display—head and neck stretched upward with a braying vocal.
Crested, brush-tailed, and temperate penguins, stand facing each other, performing the action in unison. Within these species there are some behavior differences. For example, gentoos generally hold their outstretched head and flippers still, while macaronis flap flippers and roll their heads from side to side.
Emperor penguins have a unique mutual display position: Standing face-to-face, individuals hold their heads down with bills pointed to the ground while braying. Mutual displays continue throughout the breeding season, often taking place at the nest when parents switch places for egg incubation and chick feeding.
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