The tallest penguin
Emperor penguins are the largest penguins. They breed during the Antarctic winter, the only bird to do so, and huddle in tight groups to survive temperatures that fall far below freezing.
A voice that works like a name
In a colony of thousands of nearly identical birds, parents and chicks find each other by sound. Penguins produce two tones at once from their voice box, which creates a call with a distinctive pattern for each individual. A returning parent can pick out its own chick’s voice among the crowd, and the chick learns its parent’s call in return.
Dependent on sea ice
Emperors need stable sea ice for breeding. Losing ice before chicks are ready to swim has led to breeding failures in several colonies, and scientists expect climate change to be the biggest long-term threat.
Listen
What it sounds like: Trumpeting calls with two voices at once, unique to each bird.
To hear independent recordings, try Freesound · Xeno-canto. Check each recording’s licence before reusing it. See Media & Sources.
Conservation status follows the IUCN Red List as we understand it at the time of writing. Assessments are revised regularly, so please check the IUCN Red List for the current listing.