Thick layers of blubber keep the birds warm in cold water. For additional warmth, penguins that live where the weather is extremely cold have an extra layer of long, downy feathers below their waterproof feathers. A penguin's beak can be black, red, bright purple, or orange. The feet are black, blue, or pink. Penguins use their feet to steer themselves when they are underwater.
Some penguins have a crest of feathers on their head.
The emperor penguin ranks as one of the heaviest birds. In short bursts, they can reach three times that speed. Penguins swim below the surface, but they leap into the air for breath about once a minute. They can also dive much deeper than any other bird. The deepest divers can hold their breath for nearly 20 minutes.