Photo by @daisygilardini / Most penguins undergo an annual moult, during which every feather on their body is replaced with a new one. This process, known as a “catastrophic moult” (yes, that’s the scientific term!), happens all at once, leaving penguins looking scruffy as old feathers cling on until the new ones are fully grown.
While they may not appear their best during this time, this is Mother Nature’s way of ensuring survival. By keeping penguins fully covered—whether with old feathers or new—they can endure the extreme conditions of their environment.
The process is incredibly energy-intensive, and penguins often look miserable while moulting, like this chinstrap penguin I photographed on the Antarctic Peninsula.
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