Skip to main content

Penguins are in a desperate fight for survival as their numbers plummet. Every second counts—donate now to help secure their future.

Macaroni Penguins

Source: kuhnmi

Scientific Name: Eudyptes chrysolophus

Macaroni Penguins are the most abundant of all the penguins. They are members of the crested group of penguins.

Estimated Population:

9 million breeding pairs

Weight and height:

3.1 kg – 5 kg, 71 cm

Lifespan:

11.4 years

Prey/Diet:

Crustaceans, myctophid fish, amphipods, and cephalopods

Conservation Status:

Vulnerable

Source: Shannon Derthick

Population trends:

Decreasing arrow

Distinguishing physical characteristics:

Conspicuous yellow crest feathers that part in the middle at the top of the head. Bill is heavy and varies in color from red to orange to brown, with a pink gape. Legs and feet are pink, eyes are dark red.

Source: Pooja's Laboratory

Geographic Breeding Range:

Antarctic Peninsula; Bouvet Island; Chile; Crozet Islands; Falkland Islands; Heard Island and McDonald Islands; Kerguelen Islands; Prince Edward Islands; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; South Orkney Islands

Fun Fact:

This species was named in the 18th century by English explorers for their yellow-orange tassels. The tassels resembled the feathers called “macaronis” on the hats worn by young fashionable men.

Macaroni Penguin Research,

Opinion Pieces,

and News.

All In One Place

Penguin zookeeper
Blog

Zookeepers Help Penguin Conservation

Zookeepers Help Penguin Conservation By Megan Spofford National Zoo Keeper Week 2019 is July 21-27.…
Fiordland Penguin
Blog

A story of prehistoric Crested Penguins

A story of prehistoric Crested Penguins by Nataly H. AranzamendiHumans have caused the decrease of…

Contact Us!

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Name
Email
Please let us know what's on your mind. Have a question for us? Ask away.

Want to join our newsletter?

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Next Steps: Sync an Email Add-On

To get the most out of your form, we suggest that you sync this form with an email add-on. To learn more about your email add-on options, visit the following page (https://www.gravityforms.com/the-8-best-email-plugins-for-wordpress-in-2020/). Important: Delete this tip before you publish the form.
Name(Required)
Email(Required)
Penguins International
1635 Foxtrail Drive #345
Loveland, CO 80538 USA
Your Donation

Makes a Difference

Privacy Policy