The penguins increase their chances of survival by unique behavioral adaptation called huddling, that is grouping together or tugging. The huddling behavior is especially useful during storms. In these conditions temperatures can drop to −40°.

When the penguins huddle, the density of penguins increases. Through the huddling behavior, the penguins reduce their energy loss to approximately half the energy loss of them standing in isolation. This is very useful, since at the breeding colonies, male penguins do not feed for about four months. In these huddles, the penguins move in a coordinated periodic wave. This allows every penguin a chance to move from the colder outer region of the huddle into the warmer inner region.

As the penguins march together to find a breeding place, they tug themselves closer together during cold storms which help them to stay warm. Up to 6,000 male emperor penguins will huddle together while incubating their eggs during the middle of the Antarctic winter.