Chinstrap Penguins

by Amy Farmer and Justin Wallace

The reason they call it the Chinstrap penguin is because it looks like it has a strap under it's chin. It's really the black feathers that makes the strap. Chinstrap penguins ride the waves onto an Antarctic island. When the sea ice breaks up in the spring thousands of penguins come on shore. Most return to the same place. Sometimes males have to fight for their own spot of ground. The birds greet by waving their flippers and raising their bills. The Chinstraps have black beaks and black eyes. They are about 30 inches tall.They are about the same size as the Rockhopper penguin.

Back to Mrs. Meisner's Penguin Page.