Early explorers often wrote about these birds as friendly companions during long, lonely expeditions across the ice

It’s the “dark-themed” albatross

Often considered one of the most beautiful albatross species because of its soft gray coloring and gentle contrast

Can dive deeper than many seals

Built to “ride the wind,” using long glides and smooth turns to save energy

Unlike many albatross species, it often prefers slightly warmer ocean waters

Can fly thousands of miles without a single flap

Often follow ships and fishing boats, attracted by food stirred up near the surface

Among the biggest flying birds on Earth

Highly site-faithful, often returning to the exact same nesting spot year after year

Least studied of all Antarctic seals

A master of living under the ice, and a haunting singer in one of the world’s coldest wildernesses

Their misleading name comes from early explorers who mistakenly thought they fed on crabs

When faced with hard-shelled prey, this gull simply flies up and drops it onto rocks — no tools, no problem

Aptly named the biggest of the Penguin species & Olympic diver of the bird world

Has one of the warmest fur of any mammal

Well-adapted to the cold Arctic climate and can withstand temperatures as low as -50°C (-58°F)

With their stately waddle and regal demeanor, they are the undisputed monarchs of the Antarctic ice

Often called the “vulture of the seas” because of its scavenging habits

A small, but mighty bird dressed in a tuxedo and living in one of the coldest places on Earth

The penguin with a cool tiara

Watching them misjudge a jump and immediately try again makes them look stubborn and determined rather than clumsy

The most grumpy penguin with a helmet and a chinstrap!

Bushy tailed fastest diving penguin

This species is found in all world oceans except the north Pacific Ocean

These mighty birds have the longest wingspan, second only to wandering albatrosses

The humongous bird with the largest wing span of 3.5 m (11.5 ft) – seems straight out of a fantasy movie

This bird can give any cross-country runner a run for their money

The ends of the mouth are permanently curled upwards that look like a smile or a menacing grin

The largest member of the order Carnivora, adult males, can be six times larger than polar bears!

Once nearly wiped out, it now thrives in great numbers