How do penguins recognise their chicks in a colony?
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Penguins rely on vocal recognition to identify their chicks among thousands in densely packed colonies. Each chick and parent pair has a unique call, which they learn and use to locate each other. Penguins have excellent auditory discrimination, allowing them to pick out their chickโs call amid the noise of the colony. Visual cues, such as location and movement patterns, may also help. This ability is crucial for the survival of chicks in crowded, harsh environments.