Penguin Awareness Day Jan 20, 2023

Penguin Awareness Day

We"re celebrating Penguin Awareness Day in the Falkland Islands, taking a stroll with some king penguins. Kings are the second-largest penguin species, only outranked in stature by their emperor penguin cousins. And while the kings" tuxedo coloring gives them a dash of the debonair, it also provides an important and more practical purpose: camouflage. When the birds dive deep into the ocean looking for food, their black feathers disguise the birds from predators above, while their white undersides do the reverse. Kings are legendary for their diving prowess—in their quest for tasty squid and lanternfish, they can dive to depths of 300 feet, and some have even been spotted nearly 1,000 feet beneath the surface. Underwater, these flightless birds are the epitome of grace. On land, however, they are not so graceful, and waddle or "toboggan" on their bellies to get around.

© Elmar Weiss/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Jan 20, 2018Yellow-eyed penguins, Moeraki, New Zealand
Jan 20, 2019It’s Penguin Awareness Day
Jan 20, 2020A march toward a dream
Jan 20, 2021Penguins can t fly!
Jan 20, 2022Penguin Awareness Day
Jan 20, 2024Penguin Awareness Day
Jan 20, 2025Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Jan 20, 2026Penguin Awareness Day

More Desktop Wallpapers:

May 6, 2021Why you should thank a nurse today
Oct 16, 2022Prince Christian Sound in southern Greenland
Jun 7, 2019Holey moley–it’s National Doughnut Day!
May 2, 2021Happy World Laughter Day
May 21, 2023Pont dArcole over the Seine river, Paris, France
Jan 14, 2022Road to Sa Calobra, Majorca, Spain
Nov 28, 2024Happy Thanksgiving!
Oct 19, 2021These laurels are hardy
Nov 27, 2025Happy Thanksgiving!
Aug 30, 2023International Whale Shark Day
Feb 25, 2019High above the reef
Jan 27, 2018Bioluminescence at Trwyn Du Lighthouse in Wales
Jun 8, 2022World Oceans Day
Oct 20, 2024International Sloth Day
Aug 25, 2021Happy anniversary to the National Park Service!
Oct 29, 2020Let s get lost
Oct 20, 2018Moody skies over Valletta
Mar 21, 2026International Day of Forests
Apr 9, 2023Happy Easter!
Apr 1, 2021Why do elephants hide in trees?
Feb 12, 2019To Roswell, and beyond!
Aug 6, 2025Kalalau Beach on the Nā Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii
Oct 31, 2025Happy Halloween!
Apr 5, 2019A day of death and rebirth
Nov 20, 2020Atop the Needle of Chamonix
Jul 4, 2023Happy Independence Day!
May 22, 2018Happy birthday to Crater Lake National Park
May 10, 2025Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota
Jun 12, 2019A big birthday for Big Bend
Apr 1, 2024April Fools Day