Penguins of Paradise

Family: Chromatornidae.

The Chromatornids, commonly know as the Penguins of Paradise, are a family of brightly coloured aquatic birds descended from auks. Their common name comes from their bright colours and their superficial resemblance to Penguins.

Penguins of Paradise live in the shallow waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Artic oceans. The family Chromatornidae contains two sub-families: Penguins of Paradise (Chromatorninae) and Sea Parrots (Psittacirhynchinae)Diet varies greatly between sub-families. Penguins of Paradise eat fish and cephalopods, Sea Parrots eat crustaceans, bivalves and gastropods.

An example of the Penguins of Paradise is Happyfeet's penguin of Paradise (Chromatornis happyfeeti), so named because the males courtship dance is reminiscent of tap dancing.

An example of the Sea Parrots is the Southern Red Faced Sea Parrot (Erythonops australis), so named because of its red face and its southernly range than its relative, the Northern Red Faced Sea Parrot (Erythonops jacksparrowi) also called Jack Sparrows Sea Parrot, after its clumsy "drunken" walking.