Penguins: The luckiest birds alive

"..Penguins keep warm on land by huddling.

Scientists have found that it is highly effective for keeping warm on land and can generate a tropical environment in one of the coldest environments on earth.

The emperor penguin breeds during the severe Antarctic winter, and the males have the job of incubation, which involves them being deprived of food for around 65 days.

But successful breeding requires a temperature of around 35C, and so to keep warm, the males huddle.

Researchers from the Scott Institute of Polar Research, who investigated what exactly happens inside huddles for the first time, showed that the birds spend an average of 38 per cent of breeding time huddling, with huddles lasting around 90 minutes. The birds moved around in the huddle so they all had access to the inner warmth."

Read more here:

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/penguins-the-luckiest-birds-alive-2222886.html