Adélie Penguin
NameAdélie Penguin
Common NameAdélie Penguin
Scientific NamePygoscelis adeliae
FamilySpheniscidae
Wingspan (cm)38
Length (cm)70
Weight (g)5400
Plumage DetailsAdults have a glossy black head, back, and flippers, contrasting sharply with a pure white belly and chest. A prominent white ring encircles each eye. Chicks are covered in dense, dark gray down, which gradually gives way to adult plumage.
Vocalization / CallAdélie Penguins produce a variety of harsh, guttural squawks, braying calls, and trumpeting sounds, particularly during the breeding season to communicate within their noisy colonies.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatscoastal, sea ice, open ocean, rocky islands
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeAdélie Penguins have a circumpolar distribution, breeding along the entire coast of the Antarctic continent and on numerous sub-Antarctic islands.
Identifying FeaturesProminent white eye-ring, Black head and back, white belly, Medium size for a penguin, Dark gray chicks, Breeds in large, dense colonies
Description
The Adélie Penguin is a medium-sized penguin species easily recognized by its distinctive white eye-ring. These highly social birds breed in large colonies on the Antarctic coast and surrounding islands, spending much of their lives foraging in the frigid Southern Ocean.
