King Penguin
NameKing Penguin
Common NameKing Penguin
Scientific NameAptenodytes patagonicus
FamilySpheniscidae
Wingspan (cm)30
Length (cm)90
Weight (g)13500
Plumage DetailsAdult King Penguins have a black back, head, and throat, with a stark white belly. They feature prominent bright orange-yellow ear patches on the sides of the head and a large, vibrant orange patch on the upper chest that fades to yellow lower down. The long, slender bill is black with a distinctive orange-pink streak on the lower mandible.
Vocalization / CallTheir vocalizations are loud, trumpet-like calls, often described as braying or bugling, used for communication within their large colonies, especially between mates and for parent-chick recognition.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatssubantarctic islands, coastal waters
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeKing Penguins breed on subantarctic islands in the Southern Ocean, including South Georgia, the Falkland Islands, Prince Edward Islands, Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands, and Macquarie Island. They forage in the surrounding cold ocean waters.
Identifying Featureslarge size, orange-yellow ear patches, orange chest patch, long, slender bill with orange-pink streak, black back and head, white belly
Description
King Penguins are large, striking penguins known for their tall, upright posture and distinctive orange-yellow patches on the sides of their head and upper chest. They are highly social birds, forming dense breeding colonies on subantarctic islands.
