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2

Royal Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) Alternate name(s): "Macaroni Penguin", "Big-crested Penguin", "Erect-crested Penguin" Size: 65-75 cm Weight: 3-8 kg

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Royal Penguins are medium-sized penguins, with an all-white front and an all-black back. Their most outstanding features are bright orange-yellow whiskers on the forehead and a huge orange-pink bill. Their legs and feet are skin-pink.

Taxonomy, classification See Royal Penguin at Wikipedia . Click here for classification information The taxonomic status of Royal Penguins is uncertain. They are considered by many to be race "schlegeli" of Eudyptes chrysolophus (where the other race would be "chrysolophus", the "Macaroni Penguin"), whereas other sources give them full species status as Eudyptes schlegeli.

Range, habitat, finding this species 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 . The global distribution of the Royal Penguin is available HERE . Royal Penguins live on the subantarctic islands of Australia. Royal Penguins are found on Macquarie Island and associated islands in the Macquarie Group. Royal Penguins are non-flying pelagic birds that spend most of their time out in the open ocean and in coastal waters. Penguins can also spend much of their time on ice.

Sightings Click here for sighting information B. Hensen reports spotting Royal Penguins on Macquarie Island in the Southern Ocean in December 1993. All photographic and sighting information presented on this page has kindly been contributed by B. Hensen.

Photos

Race "schlegeli"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Close-up view of two adult Royal Penguins (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Macquarie Island, Southern Ocean, December 1993]

Close-up view of two Royal Penguins (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Macquarie Island, Southern Ocean, December 1993]

Royal Penguin traffic up and down a creek bed, on the way to and fro their breeding grounds - note the left-hand side traffic, in accordance with Australian road rules (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Macquarie Island, Southern Ocean, December 1993]

Royal Penguin seen passing "Macquarie Cabbage (Stilbocarpa polaris)" (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Macquarie Island, Southern Ocean, December 1993]

Royal Penguin returning to land from fishing expeditions (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Macquarie Island, Southern Ocean, December 1993]

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Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Fri, 22 February 2019, 5:40 +00:00