Penguin Point

Penguin Point transports visitors to the rocky shores of South Africa to experience the sights, sounds, (and smells!) of an African Penguin colony. This spacious habitat, with indoor and outdoor views, offers a 360° perspective on African Penguins as they waddle, scale rocks, and torpedo through the water.

Please Note: We’re re-feathering our nest! The National Aviary’s Penguin Point habitat will be temporarily closed for routine maintenance the week of Mon., March 16.

You can still meet an African Penguin Animal Ambassador during an Eggs-pert Talk at 10:30 am, 12, 1:30, and 4 pm near the Helen M. Schmidt FliteZone™ Theater, included with General Admission! OR check “touching an African Penguin’s soft feathers” off your bucket list during a Penguin Encounter; Members receive a discount.

Stay tuned to our website and social media channels for a reopening date.

Three African Penguins standing on a rock structure

African Penguin swimming through the water

You can catch incredible views of the penguins as they swim through the water in the wheelchair-accessible acrylic tubes, which offer a penguin’s-eye view of the space. Domed bubbles crop up through the rocky ledges, putting you face-to-beak with the birds! Heated caves provide space for nesting.

As a leader in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan® (SSP) for African Penguins, the National Aviary’s penguins play an important role in helping their species rebound and keeping the genetic lines of African Penguins in zoos strong, diverse, and healthy.

African Penguins are Critically Endangered due to human encroachment on their breeding grounds and overfishing. While at Penguin Point, learn about Seafood Watch and how you can make sustainable seafood choices to help brighten the future for African Penguins and other aquatic species.

You can learn more about African Penguins by attending our Penguin Feeding at 10:30 am and 4 pm, included with General Admission.

Spend even more time with them by booking a Penguin Feeding Encounter (available from March 15 to November 15) or Penguin Encounter.

Learn More about Animal Encounters

CyBird Virtual Education!

Do you teach, or do you have school-aged children interested in learning why Penguins are Cool or about different Habitats around the world? The National Aviary’s CyBIRD Virtual Education platform is for them!

Learn More about CyBIRD Programs

Symbolically Adopt a Penguin!

Support African Penguins with a symbolic adoption! The Adopt-A-Bird program makes a great gift and helps us care for our flock!

Learn More

In The News

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The Invisible Clues Animals Leave Behind Are Helping Save Entire Ecosystems (featuring an interview with Dr. Steve Latta) | A-Z Animals

In this article, we speak with Dr. Steven Latta, Director of Conservation and Field Research at The National Aviary. In his own work, he collects eDNA samples from water, leaf litter, feathers, egg shells, and other substrates to identify species presence.

Why Animals in Cold Climates Are Bigger: The Science Behind Bergmann’s Rule (featuring an interview with Bob Mulvihill) | A-Z Animals

“Large animals can conserve heat more efficiently than smaller animals in cold climates,” explains Bob Mulvihill, Lead Ornithologist for the National Aviary.

Penguins To Hold ‘Penguins Pledge Night’ Presented by U. S. Steel | Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins Pledge will also raise funds and call attention to the National Aviary in Pittsburgh and their conservation leadership with African Penguins.

Record Number of Peregrine Falcons Counted in Allegheny County | National Today

Conservation efforts have helped the raptor species rebound in the region.

Why Are There No Birds in My Birdhouse? I Asked Expert Bob Mulvihill Who Told Me How to Attract Birds to Any Birdhouse | Gardening Know How

To help ensure your birdhouses are as appealing to birds as possible, [we] asked a National Aviary Ornithologist Bob Mulvihill for the most common reasons why houses remain vacant and how to make houses more attractive to garden birds.