Weathering the Storm
Base H - Signy Island Antarctica

  ©Copyright P. Ward - picture taken 1985 / 86

Penguins have the densest arrangements of feathers of any birds, though this is somewhat misleading as most other birds can fly and so have larger feathers of a different sort. Penguin feathers are more hair-like than traditional feather-like and give excellent insulation against the cold. They do have "directionality" though and aren't any where near as good if ruffled, so in strong winds with blowing snow like this, these adélie penguins get down low, face the wind and make themselves as short and compact as they can manage.