Where Do Emperor Penguins Live? (Habitat + Distribution)

Emperor penguins (groin worm) is probably the best-known member of the Spheniscidae family, which consists of 18 species of flightless penguins that inhabit the oceans of the Southern Hemisphere.

They are also the largest penguin species, reaching about 45 inches (114 cm) tall and weighing up to 99 pounds (45 kg). So where do these giant seabirds live?

Emperor penguins are endemic to Antarctica, the continent surrounding the South Pole. However, most of these birds are seabirds that hunt in water and breed on ice sheets, spending little time on land.

There are more than 50 known breeding colonies where emperor penguins gather each winter to raise their chicks. Most of these colonies are located on ice sheets that connect to the coast, although some are located on snow-covered ground.

Emperor penguins resting on sea ice, Cape Washington

Emperor penguins are well-adapted to living in one of the coldest regions on Earth. Amazingly, these flightless birds can keep warm (and their eggs and chicks) in a freezing world where mercury temperatures drop below -40 °F (-40 °C).

Emperor penguins are remarkably graceful in the water, capable of diving to depths of more than 1,600 feet (500 meters) and swimming at speeds of more than 8 mph (13 km/h). They are much less capable on land, but still manage to trek across the ice each year to reach their winter breeding grounds.

Read on to learn all the facts about emperor penguin habitats.

Emperor Penguins on Snow Mountain Island

Where do emperor penguins live in Antarctica?

Emperor penguins live and feed in waters as well as on floes and sea ice around Antarctica. However, they occasionally venture onto land, but this is usually where the sea ice flattens out onto land.

What is the distribution range of emperor penguins?

Emperor penguins are endemic to Antarctica and its coastal waters. They live across the continent, approximately between 66° and 78° south latitude.

Read on to learn more about emperor penguin habitats and where to see these amazing birds.

A curious emperor penguin looks at the ice

What is the habitat of emperor penguins?

Emperor penguins are seabirds that hunt and forage in the waters surrounding Antarctica, including the Ross Sea and the Weddell Seas. They breed on sea ice close to the coast (and sometimes on the shore), in more than 50 colonies around the coastline.

Upper (0 – 650 ft/0 – 200 m) and meso (650 – 3300 ft/200 – 1000 m) depths are their most important feeding grounds. Here they dive for fish, krill and squid, sometimes reaching depths in excess of 1600 feet (500 meters) and staying underwater for more than 20 minutes!

How rare is it to see emperor penguins?

Emperor penguins aren’t the easiest birds to see in the wild, simply because of the remoteness of their Antarctic home. In fact, there’s no real guarantee that birders will spot these special penguins, even if they do make the trek to see them.

Emperor penguins are listed as endangered because their numbers are expected to decline as temperatures rise and breeding habitats become more restricted. However, they are still plentiful and visitors to the coast of Antarctica have the opportunity to see these wonderful birds.

Breeding a pair of emperor penguins

Where is the best place to see emperor penguins?

Emperor penguins are kept in captivity in some zoos in the United States and Asia, and these are the easiest places to see these birds.

For the more adventurous penguin watchers, tourist expeditions to places like Snowy Island, Gould Bay and Atka Bay are your best chances of seeing these birds in their natural habitat. Of course, the journey isn’t easy (or cheap), involving days at sea, icebreakers, helicopter flights, and sometimes quite a bit of hiking.

When is the best time to see emperor penguins?

Tour package providers recommend that late spring (October/November) is the best time to visit the area as it is the best time to enter the area and see breeding birds and feathered chicks.

A pair of emperor penguin chicks, huddled together

Do emperor penguins stay in one place?

Emperor penguins are highly mobile, non-territorial birds. In a single summer, these birds may fly a thousand miles to and from their summer molting areas on floating ice floes. In autumn, they congregate on terrestrial sea ice to breed, and can travel up to 70 miles (112 kilometers) across the ice to reach their roost (breeding grounds).

That’s an impressive journey for a bird that can only travel at 1.7 miles per hour (2.8 kilometers per hour)!

After fledgling, young emperor penguins migrate north to the open ocean, where they perfect their swimming and hunting techniques.

Once experienced, the juveniles return to cooler waters near the coast to hunt beneath and between sea ice. Juveniles do not return to the breeding flock until they reach sexual maturity at 5 to 6 years of age.

Emperor penguins on sea ice in East Antarctica

How do emperor penguins survive the extreme cold?

Emperor penguins have a core body temperature of 98.4 °F (36.9 °C) — very similar to ours. This can be a challenge in one of the coldest regions on Earth, but luckily, they are well-suited to survive in such an extreme environment.

Emperor penguins rely on highly insulating feathers to absorb more than 80% of their body heat. Their feathers are also a very effective barrier against the strong winds of Antarctic winters. These group-nesting birds also understand the importance of body temperature and will huddle together for warmth.

However, insulating feathers and teamwork aren’t the only tricks emperor penguins use to keep warm. These birds also have the following adaptations:

• Large fat reserves, coupled with low activity levels
• fat deposits on their feet to prevent freezing
• Small bill and ability to recover heat from breath

Emperor penguins have highly insulating feathers that help them stay warm

What temperature do emperor penguins live in?

Emperor penguins prefer temperatures between 14°F and 68°F (-10°C and 20°C), although temperatures in their habitats can reach extreme temperatures of -40°F (-40°C) .

Where do emperor penguins live in summer?

Summer is the time when juvenile emperor penguins grow their wings and leave their breeding grounds to hunt for food at sea. Adult penguins are also widely distributed in summer, and at this time of year they may travel as far as 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) to find floating ice floes where they can spend weeks moulting.

Emperor penguin jumping out of ice hole

common problem

Can emperor penguins survive in warm weather?

While some penguin species do live in warmer climates, emperors are certainly not one of them! Emperor penguins are well adapted to cold weather and water. While their natural habitat may be icy, the resulting warmth can reach dangerous levels when large numbers of animals congregate in breeding grounds.

Amazingly, temperatures above 70°F (21°C) can be reached by huddling together, which is why the birds come and go to keep warm and cool down. Some will even eat snow to cool off if they snuggle up with their neighbors for too long!

Do emperor penguins live in the Arctic?

Emperor penguins do not live in the Arctic. In fact, these impressive seabirds live on the other side of the world, in the waters near the south pole of Antarctica.