Adélie Penguin
NameAdélie Penguin
Common NameAdélie Penguin
Scientific NamePygoscelis adeliae
FamilySpheniscidae
Wingspan (cm)40
Length (cm)70
Weight (g)4500
Plumage DetailsGlossy black plumage covers the back, head, and throat, contrasting sharply with a pure white belly and chest. A distinctive white ring encircles each eye.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include a variety of harsh, guttural squawks, barks, and trumpeting calls, particularly during the breeding season to communicate within their large colonies.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatscoastal ice, open ocean, rocky shores
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeAdélie Penguins have a circumpolar distribution, breeding on the rocky, ice-free coasts and islands around the entire Antarctic continent.
Identifying Featuresblack head and back, white belly, distinctive white eye-ring, medium size, stiff tail feathers
Description
Adélie Penguins are medium-sized penguins characterized by their striking black and white plumage and a prominent white ring around each eye. These highly social birds are excellent swimmers and divers, often seen leaping from ice floes into the frigid Antarctic waters.
