World Penguin Day Apr 25, 2024

World Penguin Day

Why fly when you can slide? Happy World Penguin Day! There are 18 species of these flightless birds, 17 of which live in the Southern Hemisphere. Today"s Antarctic image stars Adélie penguins, discovered in 1840 by French adventurer Jules Dumont d"Urville, who named them after his wife, Adèle. Despite their small size, Adélie penguins are sleek swimmers and can dive as deep as 575 feet in search of shrimp-like krill or fish. They are social animals that gather in small colonies for foraging, hunting, and protection. While it may seem mischievous, Adélies steal pebbles from nearby nests to strengthen their own, safeguarding their eggs and chicks from Antarctica"s harsh conditions and predators.

© Patrick J. Endres/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Apr 25, 2018National Park Week: Wind Cave National Park
Apr 25, 2019Here comes summer
Apr 25, 2020Rockin with the rockhoppers
Apr 25, 2021One giant leap for penguins
Apr 25, 2022World Penguin Day
Apr 25, 2023World Penguin Day
Apr 25, 2025World Penguin Day
Apr 25, 2026World Penguin Day

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jan 23, 2026Þorrablót, Icelandic midwinter festival
May 20, 2022World Bee Day
Dec 1, 2020Giving Tuesday
Sep 30, 2018Aw shucks, it’s oyster season in Galway
Apr 5, 2022Goðafoss waterfall, Iceland
Apr 19, 2019Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park shines
Jan 20, 2024Penguin Awareness Day
May 20, 2025World Bee Day
Mar 19, 2018Sanxiantai Dragon Bridge in Taitung, Taiwan
Jun 16, 2022Seonam Temple, South Korea
Dec 27, 2018A wonderland in winter
Jan 28, 2023The Bahamas as seen from the ISS
Jul 31, 2020The Big Blue of the Sierra
May 17, 2020My my, it s Syttende Mai
Oct 13, 2024Royal Alcázar of Seville, Spain
Dec 4, 2019Protecting endangered giants
Dec 17, 2024Traditional red fishermens cabins, Reine, Norway
May 27, 2021Listening to the sea
Jun 1, 2018In Apia Harbor for Samoan Independence Day
Aug 12, 2022World Elephant Day
Jan 4, 2022Borrego Badlands
Mar 11, 2026Peach trees in Cieza, Murcia, Spain
Aug 1, 2018Don’t look down
Dec 27, 2021Snow buntings take flight
Dec 21, 2019Seventeen arches at sunset
May 26, 2024Methow Valley, North Cascades, Washington
Apr 2, 2024Beech trees and wild anemones, Jutland, Denmark
Jul 17, 2018Is there a bug-egg emoji for this?
Jul 22, 2021Singing praises of the oceans
Jan 29, 2018Vacuum Chamber 5 at Glenn Research Center