Adelie Penguin
NameAdelie Penguin
Common NameAdelie Penguin
Scientific NamePygoscelis adeliae
FamilySpheniscidae
Wingspan (cm)65
Length (cm)70
Weight (g)4500
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, and the bill is short and black with a reddish base.
Vocalization / CallAdelie Penguins produce a variety of harsh, guttural squawks, braying calls, and trumpeting sounds, especially during the breeding season to communicate within their dense colonies.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeAdelie Penguins have a circumpolar distribution, breeding on the rocky coasts and islands around the entire Antarctic continent.
Identifying Featuresdistinctive white eye-ring, black head and back, pure white belly, short, black bill with reddish base, upright posture
Description
The Adelie Penguin is a medium-sized penguin characterized by its distinctive white eye-ring and black-and-white plumage. These highly social birds breed in large colonies along the Antarctic coast, spending much of their lives foraging in the frigid Southern Ocean.
