Penguins generally live on islands and remote continental regions free from land predators, where their inability to fly is not detrimental to their survival.
These highly specialized marine birds are adapted to living at sea — some species spend months at a time at sea. Penguins are usually found near nutrient-rich, cold-water currents that provide an abundant supply of food.
Different species thrive in varying climates, ranging from Galápagos penguins on tropical islands at the equator to emperor penguins restricted to the pack ice and waters of Antarctica.
The seasons of the Southern Hemisphere are opposite those of the Northern Hemisphere. When continents above the equator experience spring and summer, the areas below the equator experience fall and winter.
The most southerly penguin colony in the world are a group of Adélies that regularly nest near Camp Royds, Antarctica.
