Macaroni Penguin
Macaroni Penguin

Macaroni Penguin

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Sphenisciformes
Family
Spheniscidae
Genus
Eudyptes
SPECIES
Eudyptes chrysolophus
Population size
6.3 Mln
Life Span
15-20 yrs
TOP SPEED
35 km/h
WEIGHT
3-6.4 kg
HEIGHT
60-70 cm
WINGSPAN
80-100 cm

The Macaroni penguin is one of six crested penguins with the identifying crest on its forehead, formed by long orange-yellow and black feathers, extending to the ear coverts on either side of the animal's head. The head, upper-parts, tail and upper flippers are black, while the under-parts are white. The animal has black chin and throat. The eyes are deep red and the beak is pinkish-red, consisting of horny plates. The webbed feet and short, sturdy legs of the animal are pink in color. Both males and females exhibit similar plumage while females are a bit smaller than males. Unlike adults, juvenile penguins have grey throat and chin. In addition, the crest on their head is shorter than that of adult individuals. Chicks have dark grey plumage, grey eyes, brownish-black beak, lacking the head crest.

Di

Diurnal

Cr

Crepuscular

Ca

Carnivore

Se

Semiaquatic

Fl

Flightless bird

Se

Sedentary

Mo

Monogamy

So

Social

M

starts with

Photos with Macaroni Penguin

Macaroni Penguin at Cooper Bay, South Georgia
Moulting macaroni penguin
Macaroni Penguin at London Zoo
Macaroni Penguin amid Tussock Grass
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Distribution

These penguins inhabit rocky and water-bound terrains, being found on cliffs and rocks. In South America, their range stretches from southern Chile to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, the South Sandwich Islands and South Orkney Islands. The Macaroni penguins are widely distributed across Antarctica, the Sub Antarctic and the Antarctic Peninsula, found on the northern South Shetland Islands, Bouvet Island, the Prince Edward and Marion islands, the Crozet Islands, the Kerguelen Islands and the Heard and McDonald Islands. They also make long-distance foraging trips, reaching as far as southern Brazil, Tristan da Cunha, South Africa, the offshore islands of Australia and New Zealand.

Macaroni Penguin habitat map

Geography

Continents
Antarctica, South America, Africa
Subcontinents
Sub-Saharan Africa
Countries
Argentina, Chile, South Africa

Biome

Rock and ice
Intertidal zone
Oceanic pelagic zone

Climate zones

Temperate
Cold
Macaroni Penguins at Cooper Bay, South Georgia

Habits and Lifestyle

These penguins are highly social animals, gathering into large colonies, which generally consist of breeding pairs and contain up to 2.5 million individuals. When on land, these birds are extremely noisy, giving out harsh braying sounds; when at sea, they tend to bark. They communicate with each other through ritual behavior, accompanying their calls by moving, waving their heads and flippers, bowing and preening. Being both diurnal and crepuscular animals, these birds are active throughout the day. They forage by day, often remaining in water from dawn to dusk. During the daytime hours, they can dive at a depth of 20 - 80 meters, remaining emerged for 2 - 3 minutes, whereas during the night, they dive no deeper than 20 meters. Looking for feeding areas, Macaroni penguins can travel up to 400 km along the polar front. At the mating season, the birds typically fast for up to 40 days.

Group name
rookery, colony, huddle, convent, waddle, raft
Lifestyle
Semiaquatic, Flightless bird, Sedentary

Diet and Nutrition

Macaroni penguins are carnivores. Their diet generally consists of krill, about 5% squid as well as small amount of fish and amphipod crustaceans.

Diet Carnivore

Mating Habits

MATING BEHAVIOR
Monogamy
INCUBATION PERIOD
34 days
INDEPENDENT AGE
10 weeks
FEMALE NAME
female
MALE NAME
male
BABY NAME
chick, nestling
BABY CARRYING
2 eggs

Macaroni penguins have monogamous mating system, forming lifelong pairs. During the breeding season, they gather into large colonies. Usually, males arrive before females to establish territories. The female lays two eggs, first of which is smaller and is not incubated. The eggs are typically laid in a shallow scrape, made in the ground. The second, larger egg in incubated by both parents for about 34 days. For the first 3 - 4 weeks after hatching, the male remains with the chick, caring for the hatchling, whereas the female forages to provide them both with food. After a while, the hatchling joins a crèche of other young penguins while both parents forage to feed the chick. By the age of 10 weeks, the youngster attains its adult plumage and can go out to sea.

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Population Trend
Decreasing
POPULATION STATUS
Vulnerable (VU)
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Population

Population threats

One of the major threats is overfishing, which considerably reduces populations of krill and other small invertebrates that are the main source of food for these penguins. At their breeding grounds, the birds are exposed to oil pollution, fishing and global warming. On the other hand, breeding population on Marion Island has sharply reduced due to disease outbreaks.

Population number

The overall population of this species is currently decreasing, being estimated to about 6.300.000 breeding pairs. On the IUCN Red List, the Macaroni Penguin is classified as Vulnerable (VU).

Fun Facts for Kids

  • When on land, the penguins move around by hopping. In addition, these agile animals easily climb up rocky cliffs to get to their colonies.
  • During their courtship rituals, male penguins outstretch their flippers, hold the head upward and pump their chest repeatedly, accompanying it with harsh breying calls.
  • The species was named in the middle of 18th century by English explorers. When they first saw the penguin, the yellow crest on the bird's head reminded them a particular style, which was common at that time among young men: those, wearing flashy feathers in their hats were labeled "Macaroni", which came from the song "Yankee Doodle", sung during the Revolutionary War, meant to make fun of the poorly dressed Continental Army.
  • In the film "Happy Feet", one of the main characters named "Lovelace" is a Macaroni penguin.
  • When on land, Macaroni penguins move around by waddling gait, with outstretched wings, held backward and upright.
  • This penguin undergoes molt once a year, losing and re-growing its plumage.

References

1. Macaroni Penguin Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macaroni_penguin
2. Macaroni Penguin on The IUCN Red List site - http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22697793/0

Related Animals

Gentoo Penguin
Pygoscelis papua
Adélie Penguin
Pygoscelis adeliae
Chinstrap Penguin
Pygoscelis antarcticus
Erect-Crested Penguin
Eudyptes sclateri
Fiordland Penguin
Eudyptes pachyrhynchus
Rockhopper Penguin
Eudyptes (chrysocome)
Royal Penguin
Eudyptes schlegeli
Snares Penguin
Eudyptes robustus

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