ROGER TIDMAN / GETTY IMAGES (ADÉLIE IN NEST); JAN VERMEER / MINDEN PICTURES (ADÉLIE CHICKS); ROBERT HARDING PICTURE LIBRARY / NATIONAL GEOGRAPHICIMAGE COLLECTION (TOBOGANNING ADÉLIES); MARTIN WALZ (MAP); CHRIS WARE (COMIC). SUZI ESZTERHAS / MINDEN PICTURES (SLOTHS, PAGES 18-19)DECEMBER 2021^ / JANUARY 2022 • NAT GEO KIDS (^17)
SEE IF YOU CAN OUTSWIM PENGUINS BY PLAYING KRILL SMACKDOWN!
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STARE DOWN
After an Adélie parent catches a
neighbor stealing stones, Mom or
Dad might perform an alternate stare,
in which they twist their head to flash
both sides of their face. This move-
ment, accompanied by a growl, is
scary to other penguins.
WRESTLE-MANIA
If a sneaky neighbor gets too close
to another penguin’s eggs or nest,
the Adélie parent might engage in
bill jousting, in which both birds lock
bills and wrestle each other with their
sharp beaks. The loser of the fight has
to find a new nesting spot.
BEAK ATTACK
If a skua gets within pecking range
of its nest, an Adélie parent might
express something more aggres-
sive than a point. Instead, they could
gape, or lower their head toward
the intruder with their beak partially
open to warn: “Back off, I bite.”
POINT TO THE DANGER
When Adélies spot danger approach-
ing from above—like south polar
skuas, seabirds that hang around
penguin nests—they might perform a
point, extending their neck and beak
upward as if they’re pointing to the
bird to say, “Hey, I see you.”
Small, sweet-looking Adélies can be fearsome—especially if they think
another penguin or a predator is putting their chicks in danger. Check
out four different protective behaviors from Adélies.
DON’T MESS WITH ADÉLIES
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