Macaroni penguins, Drake Passage, Chile
Macaroni penguins, Drake Passage, Chile (© Paul Souders/Getty Images)
Taking the plunge
Let's flap our flippers and dive into Penguin Awareness Day! Today's image features macaroni penguins swimming in the plankton-rich waters of the Drake Passage off the coast of Chile. These charming creatures, one of 18 different species of penguin in the Southern Hemisphere, can be recognized by their flashy amber crests and orange beaks. The name is said to have been coined by English sailors, derived from a term used to describe flamboyant dressers in the late 18th century.
© Paul Souders/Getty Images