Which penguin species lives in the Northern Hemisphere?

The Galápagos penguin is the only penguin species that naturally lives in the Northern Hemisphere.

This small penguin is endemic to Ecuador’s Galápagos Islands, an archipelago straddling the equator. Most individuals live on Fernandina Island and the western coast of Isabela Island, where the equator passes through the northern part of Isabela. As a result, some Galápagos penguins live just north of the equator.

The species survives in a tropical setting because cold, nutrient-rich water from the Cromwell and Humboldt currents reaches the islands. These currents support plentiful fish and help keep local sea temperatures suitable for penguins. Galápagos penguins also cool themselves by seeking shade, panting, and holding their flippers away from their bodies.

They are among the smallest penguins, standing about 48 centimeters tall on average. A common mix-up is to assume that all penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere because Antarctica is strongly associated with them. Adelie and emperor penguins do live in the south, but the Galápagos penguin is the Northern Hemisphere exception.