Penguin Pictures

Our penguin pictures gallery is full of close-up, detailed images of lovable penguins going about their lives in the Galapagos Islands. These endemic penguins, the only ones native to the Northern Hemisphere, are a wildlife photographer’s dream — they show no fear of humans, making it easy to get vivid Galapagos Penguin pictures. Find the perfect penguin image for your next project here.

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Galapagos Penguin On RockThe sounds and movements of Galápagos penguins like this one are able to express a wide range of emotions. Galápagos penguins mate for life, and have a special set of cries and moves that they save for their mates and chicks.

As this penguin stands tall, it might be coating itself with preen oil, waterproofing for a dive in the chilly sea.

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Galapagos Penguin PosingThis endemic Galápagos penguin might look a bit awkward and pudgy on land, but don’t be fooled: it swims so fast through the water that you’ll never be able to keep up.

The fat is important too. The seas around the Galapagos can get chilly, and a layer of fat is the best way to stay warm.

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Galapagos Penguin Preparing To DivePenguins in colder climates are famous for “tobogganing,” where they lie on their bellies and push themselves across the ice with their feet.

The Galápagos penguin, the only penguin found north of the equator, doesn’t see much ice. When you catch one on its belly like this, it’s almost certainly getting ready to dive for its favorite fish.

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Galapagos Penguin Close UpGalápagos penguins like this one are endemic to the Galápagos Islands, and are found nowhere else. Like many seabirds of this remarkable archipelago, they’ve developed many adaptations for feeding on bountiful fish.

For example, this penguin’s red eyes have a clear eyelid that keeps it from being irritated by salt water. You could say that Galápagos penguins are born wearing swim goggles!

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Penguin In Eastern Galapagos IslandsGalápagos penguins, the only penguins found north of the equator, are adapted for both the hot beaches and cold waters of the Galápagos Islands.

Some of their coolest features include the preen gland near their tail, which secretes an oil that the penguins use to waterproof their feathers, and their see-through eyelids, which let them keep their eyes open underwater.

Photo Taken on Bartolome Island in the Galápagos.

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Cute Galapagos PenguinsWe don’t speak the language, but it feels to us like the Galapagos Penguin on the left is saying “I once caught a fish that was this big!”

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Funny Galapagos PenguinThis Galápagos penguin isn’t happy to be bothered by the paparazzi. But can it help being such a charismatic bird?

Animals in the Galápagos Islands are so unafraid of humans that it’s easy to get close shots like this. At a short distance, it’s easy to see the line of white feathers behind this penguin’s eye, the mark of its adult plumage.

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Galapagos Penguin Close UpThis close shot of a Galápagos penguin shows off its long, slender bill, which is perfect for snacking on the small schooling fish this bird likes.

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Galapagos Penguin On BellyThe Galápagos penguin is one of five species of flightless birds on the Galápagos Islands. Most birds become flightless because the wingspans needed to fly get in the way while swimming. Nature is all about trade-offs!

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Galapagos Penguin Perched On RockThis Galápagos penguin is about to leap into the water on an epic dive to score some fish. But there’s always time to pose for a photograph.

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Baby Galapagos Penguin In WaterThough it’s just a baby, this Galápagos Penguin is equipped with lots of special features to help it hunt underwater: a layer of warming fat, a clear eyelid, and a gland that secretes waterproof oil.

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Endemic Galapagos PenguinThe Galápagos penguin is the only penguin that lives in the northern hemisphere.

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Galapagos Penguins With Sea Lion And Sally Lightfoot CrabsOnly in the Galapagos Islands could you get this much wildlife in one shot! A Galapagos sea lion swims past three Galapagos penguins and two Sally Lightfoot crabs.

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Sally Lightfoot Crab And Galapagos PenguinA Galápagos penguin admires the bright shell of a Sally Lightfoot crab, much like human visitors to the Galapagos Islands do every day.

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Two Young Galapagos PenguinsThese Galápagos penguins haven’t fully come into their adult plumage yet, but they’re close.

When they grow up, they’ll get a line white feathers around their cheeks, but keep the dark spots on their bellies.

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Dramatic Galapagos PenguinSomething about this Galápagos penguin makes it seem born for the stage.

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Galapagos Penguin And Sally Lightfoot CrabThis Sally Lightfoot crab has nothing to fear from the Galápagos Penguin that’s regarding it quizzically. The endemic penguins prefer to eat small fish instead.

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Galapagos Penguin In WaterA shot of an endemic Galápagos penguin in its element.

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Two Galapagos PenguinsGalapagos penguins like these two are social creatures. They’re not very able to defend themselves on land, so they flock together in the hundreds to find safety in numbers.

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Pair Of Galapagos PenguinsIf these Galapagos penguins are a mated pair, you’re witnessing one of the animal world’s greatest love stories. Galapagos penguin couples mate for life, raising each new set of chicks together.

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Three Galapagos PenguinsThese Galapagos penguins secrete a waterproof substance called preen oil from a gland under their tails. Once they’ve dabbed their feathers with the oil, they’ll be ready for anything the sea throws at them on today’s fishing trip.

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Two Galapagos PenguinsThese Galápagos penguins are exploring the volcanic rocks together. If they’re a mated pair, they might share a nest in a rocky crevice somewhere along this shore.

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Galapagos Penguin Baby Head Under WingNot every Galápagos penguin likes having its picture taken. This juvenile is a little camera-shy.

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Galapagos Penguin Looking At CameraGalápagos penguins like this one never look very comfortable on the rocks, but at sea, they can swim at up to 15 miles per hour -- nearly as fast as a roadrunner on land.

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Baby Galapagos PenguinA young Galápagos penguin baby -- you can tell the little ones by their white “beard” of feathers. If times are good, a Galápagos penguin couple can have two broods of chicks in a year.

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Galapagos Penguin About To DiveThis Galapagos penguin is going to jump off the high-dive any second…at least that’s what he’s telling his friends.

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Baby Galapagos Penguin On A Beautiful DayEarly in the morning, a baby Galápagos penguin prepares for one of its first solo swims. In order to waterproof its feathers, it will preen itself with oil secreted from a gland near its tail.

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