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Royal Penguin
(Eudyptes chrysolophus)
: "Macaroni Penguin", "Big-crested Penguin", "Erect-crested Penguin"
Size: 65-75 cm
Weight: 3-8 kg
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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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.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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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.
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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
.
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.
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Sightings |
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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.
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Photos |
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Race "schlegeli"
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ADULT |
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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]
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.