Stone-stealing by these playful masters of deception is a good entry into who penguins truly are. Penguins are amazing birds, but suffer from serious misleading myths because they look so goofy, waddling here and there, seemingly oblivious to what’s going on around them. Few people get to see them in their natural homes, and I’m frequently asked to write something about these remarkable beings.

Of course, while there are variations among the different species of penguins, in a nutshell (or eggshell), penguins are extremely intelligent and highly emotional, and many are masters of trickery and deceit. They also display different rhythms of waddling and unique personalities, and do not all look alike. Same-sex couples also have been observed raising chicks.

Penguins are also hearty survivors, often living in harsh areas with highly accomplished predators. The Adélie penguins I was most fortunate to study at Cape Crozier, Ross Island, Antarctica, had to survive extreme, rapidly changing weather and the presence of aquatic........

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