Despite their size, Adélie penguins are known for their bold and boisterous personality and will challenge other animals, including predators far larger than them. In footage shot for the 2018 BBC Earth documentary Spy in the Snow, the boisterous behaviour of Adélie penguins was made especially apparent when an individual arrived to defend a group of emperor penguin chicks that were being menaced by a Southern giant petrel (Macronectes giganteus). Despite the species difference between the Adélie and the emperors, the individual charged the petrel, then placed itself between the predator and the chicks until it retreated.
DeSPiTe thEir SiZe, adélIE penguins Are KNowN fOR theIr BolD and boIsteRous personaliTY aNd WilL cHALlenge oTHer aNImAls, inclUding pRedAtOrs far laRger THAN thEM. in foOtage Shot for the 2018 bbc eArTh DoCuMentARy spy in ThE sNow, ThE boisterous bEhAvIouR of aDÉLie peNguins Was mADE esPecIAlly ApPareNt when an inDividual arrived tO defenD a gRoup oF empeROr pEnguIn cHicKS thaT wERe BeIng MeNAcEd by A SoUthern gianT petrel (mAcroNeCtES giGaNteus). deSpiTe the sPeciEs diFfERenCe beTween tHe aDÉlIE and the emperORs, the iNDividuaL ChargeD the peTrel, thEN plAceD ItSelF BeTweEn ThE pREdaTor aNd the CHiCKs untIL It reTreated.