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Penguin Feathers

They are cute, clumsy and one of the most popular reasons to board a cruise to Antarctica: penguins. Of the 17 penguin species worldwide, you can find seven in the Antarctic region: adélies, kings, gentoos, chinstraps, Macaronis, rockhoppers and emperor penguins.

While you may mostly spot them on land, penguins spend ample time underwater, feeding on fish, krill and squid. While slow on land, they are fast swimmers, darting through the frigid waters of the Southern Ocean at unbelievable speeds. But how can these little critters stay warm under such conditions? Find out how their perfectly-built feather coats are high-duty polar gear withstanding the most extreme Antarctic weather.

Facts About Penguin Feathers

Facts About Penguin Feathers

A penguin’s feathers are its survival tool in the extreme conditions of Antarctica and the subantarctic region. Excellent insulation is key for any species calling the polar region its home and the penguin body is perfectly adapted. The feather density provides an insulative layer for the birds. But the significance of density alone is overrated. Whereas, in the past, feather density of emperor penguins was estimated at around 11 to 46 feathers per square centimeter (per 0.15 square inch), recent studies debunked this myth by finding only around nine feathers per square centimeter on emperor penguin samples.

With a gland near the tail, penguins spread a waterproof oil over their feathers to condition them for life at sea. To battle the harsh temperatures, penguins living near Antarctica (such as gentoo penguins) are known to feature tiny pores in their feathers trapping air and making them even more water repellent.

Penguins also regulate body temperature with muscles under the skin, controlling feather movement and thus allowing them to release or retain heat as needed. Relaxed feather muscles open their body feathers, allowing for heat release, while contracted feathers will create a tight barrier to avoid heat loss. In addition to that, dark colored feathers help to absorb heat from the sunlight to keep them warm.

Molting

Molting

Once a year it’s molting time for all penguin species. Shedding all their feathers at once resulting in a ruffled plumage, often referred to as exploding pillow look, they aren’t looking their best during that time. In the Antarctic region adults molt around March to April, whereas chick molting begins in February. Before the molt begins, penguins stock up on reserves, increasing their food intake to prepare for this stressful period. For a duration of up to four weeks, penguins aren’t waterproof and thus can’t feed in the sea. Confined to the shores while waiting for their new coat to form, penguins lose up to 4kg (8.8 lbs.), being exposed to dehydration, starvation and predators.

And did you know that climate change interferes with the penguins’ molting season? Adélie penguins molt annually on sea ice. A study of 195 penguins in the Ross Sea during 2017-19 has shown declining sea ice concentration, reducing the space for penguins to rely on for their molting time.

Preening

Preening

Antarctica is a harsh place on Earth for penguins and other species. Keeping their feathers clean, well-oiled and waterproof is key for survival and their bodies’ insulation requirements. Their heads are highly flexible and their bills work in uniform motions through their feathers. Penguins waterproof themselves by spreading oil from their glands all over their coats. These oils are water repellent and reduce friction, which makes them seemingly fly underwater. Any dirt on their feathers would reduce friction and slow down these tuxedoed torpedoes.

Preening, as well as allopreening (grooming other birds), helps to remove ectoparasites such as ticks, fleas and lice. Partner birds often help groom each other on the hard-to-reach spots to keep as clean as possible. After all, penguin colonies are a smelly and dirty place. And if you’ve ever visited any, you know what we’re talking about.

3 Types of Down Feathers in Penguins

Penguin feathers form the perfect protection from the elements and you can find three types of down feathers in the penguin plumage:

Regular body down: These are thinner feathers underneath the outer layers, present in all birds. You can further classify down feathers into plumules and afterfeathers. In studies on emperor penguins, so-called afterfeathers (downy plumes attached to the main feathers) and numerous plumules (downy feathers that are directly attached to the skin) were found to keep the penguins insulated. In addition, penguins also possess filoplumes (tiny structures less than a centimeter long) sitting at the base of flight feathers. These were previously believed to be only present in flying birds.

Natal down: Covering the entire body, chicks feature this type of coat during infancy.

Powder down: These feathers disintegrate into a powdery substance, which shields the penguin feathers from water, aiding with waterproofing.

Why Penguin Feathers Never Freeze

Why Penguin Feathers Never Freeze

Did you know that in addition to repelling water, penguin feathers don’t freeze? Penguins master the two challenges of preventing ice build-up (water and ice adherence) perfectly. While spending ample time in the frigid ocean, the cold air could easily turn them into penguin popsicles once they emerge from the sea. That’s why nature equipped them with the perfect tools to stay warm.

A major part of penguins’ repelling water from their coats is preening and spreading their gland oil all over their feathers to create a waterproof barrier. Nano-grooves on the feather surface force water droplets off the feathers, preventing them from staying and freezing. While Antarctic penguins such as gentoos possess these nano-grooved feathers, the Magellanic penguins, present mostly in warmer climates, do not feature these pores on their feathers. Penguins in warmer regions also feature less water repellent preen oils.

Penguin Feathers as An Inspiration for Anti-icing Technologies

Biomimicry is closely looking at natural geniuses such as penguins. Trying to recreate the ice-shedding nano-grooved structure of penguin feathers, science attempts to build similar materials for various practical applications in daily life. The key is the shape of the micro pores, with openings smaller than the actual empty space inside each pore. With ice formation, the smaller pore openings freeze first, trapping liquid water inside. The trapped water freezes much slower than the outside water, slowly expanding. As it finally freezes, it expands and creates cracks. The cracks help to shed off any ice build-up in turn.

Mastering the mechanical properties of ice and water-shedding of penguin feathers may open a wide range of practical applications such as an improvement of airplane wings, power line protection and even perfection of underwater suits for divers.

What is special about penguin feathers?

FAQ

What is special about penguin feathers?

Penguin coats trap warm air to keep birds from freezing in subzero temperatures. They provide for insulation and create a waterproof coat. Gland oil spread by the birds all over their coats creates a water repellent effect and their nano-grooved feather design prevents them from freezing.

Do penguins have fur or feathers?

While their dense plumage may look like a furry coat, penguins actually have feathers.

Do penguin feathers repel water?

The density of their feather coats, as well as the water repellent oil that is spread all over their bodies during preening (produced by their tail gland), make them water repellent.

Do penguins have feathers or scales?

Penguins feature a dense feather coat, not scales.