Adorable baby penguin gets a kiss from mother

Just a little p-p-p-peck on the head

By Daily Mail Reporter
PUBLISHED:  23 November 2012 

As they huddle together battling bitterly cold winds, a mother penguin reaches down and pecks her tiny fluffy chick on the head. 

The adorable scene was captured by wildlife photographer Thorsten Milse on Snow Hill Island, Antarctica.

In another cute shot, the fluffy chick peers out from under his mothers' body - looking straight down the photographers lens.

Happy feet: The adorable baby penguin gets a kiss from mother

Loving kiss: Two emperor penguins peck their chick on the head in Snow Hill Island, Antarctica

The playful chick then scuttled off to dance around with friends on the ice.

The penguins - part of a huge emperor penguin clan - also huddled together to help shield their young from the bitter wind chills which can reach minus 76 degree Fahrenheit.

In the wild, Emperor Penguins typically live for 20 years, but some records indicate a maximum lifespan of around 40.

Happy feet: A group of emperor penguin chicks waddle along the ice in Snow Hill Island, Antarctica

Playful pair: Two emperor penguin chicks play on the ice in Snow Hill Island, Antarctica. The adorable scene was captured by photographer Thorsten Milse on Snow Hill Island, Antarctica

Hello world: An emperor penguin chick peers out from under his mother in Snow Hill Island

Time to play: The penguins waddles around on the ice 

Emperor Penguins eat mainly crustaceans such as krill but also occasionally indulge in small fish and squid.

They were the stars of 2006 film Happy Feet which featured the birds.
They are excellent swimmers but on land they either shuffle along or slide about on their bellies. 

Standing over a metre tall they are the largest in the family, but endure the worst breeding conditions of any bird. 

Keeping warm: A playful pair peer out from under their parents

Close: The penguins - part of a huge emperor penguin clan - also huddled together to help shield their young from the bitter wind chills which can reach minus 76 degree Fahrenheit

In March they travel to nesting sites where there is strong competition between the females for a mate. 


After a single egg is laid the females return to the sea for some nourishment, leaving the males to incubate the eggs. 

The females return only when the chicks begin to hatch. 


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