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King Penguin
(Aptenodytes patagonicus)
Size: 75-95 cm
Weight: 9-16 kg
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Similar
species |
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
King Penguins are tall penguins with black heads and massive bodies
covered with dense, well-insulating plumage.
The back and the short tail are dark-grey, the front is creamy-white,
with a golden to orange patch under the chin and orange patches behind
the ears. The upper mandible of the bill is black, the sides of the
lower mandible, except for the black tip, are orange. The legs are partly
covered with feathers, the feet are dark-grey. The black wings
are more like flippers.
Juvenile
King Penguins have paler ear patches than adults.
Chicks
have all-brown plumage,
with a dark-grey bill and massive dark-grey legs and feet.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See King
Penguin at Wikipedia  .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
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The global distribution of the King Penguin is available
HERE
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The range of King Penguins is circumpolar around Antarctica. There are
two races of King Penguins. Race "patagonicus" is found in the South
Atlantic, race "halli"
elsewhere. King Penguins breed on the fringes of Antarctica, on subantarctic
islands and some
islands farther North,
with more moderate climates.
King Penguins can also be found on the southern tip of South America.
On Australian soil, race
"halli" is found in Australian Antarctica and Macquarie Island, where
they breed, and sometimes also on the South coast of Tasmania.
King Penguins are non-flying pelagic birds that spend most of
their time out in the open ocean and in coastal waters. They breed on
offshore islands.
Penguins can also spend much of their time on ice.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
B. Hensen reports spotting King Penguins on Macquarie Island in
December 1993.
All photographic and sighting information presented
on this page has kindly been contributed by B. Hensen.
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Photos |
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Race "halli"
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ADULT |
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Colony of King Penguins on a rocky shore (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Macquarie Island, Southern Ocean, December 1993]
A few "inspectors" come to check out the visitor
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Macquarie Island, Southern Ocean, December 1993]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
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Adult King Penguins in the background, juveniles and chicks still
in brown downy plumage
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Macquarie Island, Southern Ocean, December 1993]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors.
The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
