Penguins are adorable aquatic birds that cannot fly and live almost exclusively below the equator. They survive cold temperatures thanks to their fatty tissue and feathers, well-suited for low temperatures. When it gets too cold, they stay in groups that can sometimes include thousands of penguins, helping them stay warm and protect themselves from predators at the same time.

Here are a few facts about penguins that will make you smile:

1. Penguins Propose with a Pebble

Some penguins, like Adélie penguins, find the smoothest pebble they can and offer it to a mate. If the other penguin accepts, they become partners and build a nest together!

2. Penguins Can Drink Salt Water

Penguins live near the ocean and often swallow saltwater while hunting for fish. Luckily, they have a special gland above their eyes that removes the salt from their blood.

3. Penguins Stay with Their Partners, Most of the Time

Many penguins stay with the same partner for years and return to them every breeding season. But if a pair struggles to raise chicks or one doesn’t return, they sometimes “divorce” and find a new partner.

4. Baby Penguins Have Fluffy Feathers

When penguin chicks are born, they are covered in soft, fluffy feathers called down. These keep them warm until they grow their waterproof adult feathers.

5. Penguins Can Jump High

Even though penguins waddle on land, they are powerful jumpers in the water! They can shoot themselves out of the ocean and land on ice or rocks, sometimes jumping as high as 6 feet (almost 2 meters)!

Extra Fun Fact: Penguins Choose a Partner,  But Sometimes “Divorce”!

Many penguin species choose one partner and stay together for years. They often come back to the same mate every breeding season. It’s very sweet! But if one partner doesn’t show up or if they have trouble raising chicks together, penguins sometimes “divorce” and find a new partner the next season. So even in the penguin world, relationships can be tricky!