So penguins who lay two eggs together do indeed have twins. – A twin is one of two offspring produced during the same birth – they don’t have to be identical. But NOT 2 penguins from one egg.
How Can Penguins Have Twins?
Every breeding season, penguins come back together to the breeding sites, find a partner, and mate within days. The result of this pairing is a clutch of eggs laid either in a nest, on the bare ground, or onto the feet of the parents. 16 species of penguin lay at least 2 eggs – but the Emperor and King penguins only ever lay a single egg. No twins for them.
Even though the eggs are laid a few days apart – like all birds – they are still classed as one ‘birth’ and so two eggs laid together have the potential for twin penguins. It doesn’t mean that the penguins will raise 2 chicks to maturity though – as unfortunately – one of the eggs is usually a fail-safe egg. It is laid as a backup to the favored egg – which could be taken by a fox, or other land predators.
Only the Chinstrap and Yellow-Eyed penguins intend to raise both chicks from a double-clutch. Both chicks are hatched around the same time and both are fed and treated equally.
Why Do Penguins Reject Their Chicks?
In some species – including both Rockhoppers and the Macaroni – the first egg laid is a dummy – and the second egg laid is the keeper. This second egg is larger and hatches at the same time as the first egg – however, the first egg is often kicked out of the nest before it hatches anyway. It doesn’t stand a chance.
In all the other penguin species – including the Magellanic, Galapagos, and Humboldt – their first egg laid is the keeper and is always larger than the second egg. The first-laid egg hatches first and that chick has access to all the best food for 2 days before the other one is even born. This way it always has the height advantage over any food the parent penguins bring back to the nest. The second chick only gets to eat anything when the first one is full.
This is fine in zoos and other aquariums – as there is always enough food and no predation – so usually both chicks will survive. Penguin twins are very popular in captivity and pull in a crowd. However, in the wild, in times of trouble – the second penguin just won’t make it.
Do All Penguins Lay Eggs?
This setup is common in most bird species anyway – and as all penguins are birds – all penguins lay eggs.
Bird eggs are always laid several days apart as it takes the mom quite some time to coat an egg in the rich protective layer. As each egg is fertilized it passes down her inner workings, building up this calcium-rich hard coating before being laid.
The delay in laying successive eggs always produces a clutch of birds that are a few days older than each other. In famine years – or those years with bad weather or high predation – it is nearly always the last to hatch that suffer. Often this is in the hands of the older chicks – or the parents – who sense that they would be more likely to survive themselves if the other chick were gone.
Is It Ethical to Eat Penguins?
Eating penguins: facts and misconceptions. The ethical debate surrounding eating penguins is complex. While penguins are an integral part of the Antarctic ecosystem, hunting them for food has been practiced by indigenous communities for centuries. However, the increase in global demand poses a threat to their populations. Conservation efforts to protect these unique creatures should take precedence, emphasizing education and sustainable alternatives to ensure their survival.
Why Do Penguins Nest On The Ground?
Penguins are barely agile on flat ice – so having them climbing trees would be some of the best video footage ever!
Although penguins are birds and they evolved from some long-distant ancestral flying bird – they lost the ability to fly themselves a long time ago. It was a compromise over being great swimmers. Having the wings and feet for great swimming and diving meant that they were in the wrong place and were the wrong shape for flying.
Not the kind of body plan for making a nest anywhere but on the ground.
Some penguins do create a kind of a raised nest though – to help keep the eggs together and to reduce predation. Some of which are quite fancy – including platforms and feathers. Other species living outside of Antarctica have more choice of materials too (as there are actually plants available to use) and penguin nests can be found in caves, under bushes and hidden in tree roots and hollows. All great choices.
