Macaroni Penguin

Eudyptes chrysolophus

Strutting confidently along Antarctic shores, these charismatic penguins rock distinctive 'punk rock' yellow crest feathers.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

Macaroni Penguins are characterised by their distinctive golden-orange crest feathers extending from their bill to the back of their head. They have a black back, white belly, and a robust orange-red bill. Their eyes are red, adding to their striking appearance.

Both males and females look similar, with males typically being slightly larger. Juveniles lack the prominent crest and have a smaller, darker bill. During the moulting season, adults may appear dishevelled as they shed their old feathers.

Size

Length

70cm to 76cm

Wingspan

71cm to 81cm

Weight

3kg to 6kg

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Black White

Secondary Colour

Yellow Orange

Beak Colour

Orange Red

Leg Colour

Pink

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Macaroni Penguin is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Macaroni Penguin is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Macaroni Penguin is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Macaroni Penguin can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Macaroni Penguin is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Macaroni Penguin is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Macaroni Penguin is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Macaroni Penguin is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Macaroni Penguin is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Macaroni Penguin is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Macaroni Penguin is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Macaroni Penguin is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Macaroni Penguins inhabit subantarctic and Antarctic regions, breeding on rocky, coastal areas of islands in the southern Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Key breeding sites include South Georgia, the South Sandwich Islands, and the Antarctic Peninsula.

During non-breeding seasons, they disperse widely across the Southern Ocean, venturing as far as the coasts of Chile and South Africa. They spend most of their time at sea, coming ashore only for breeding and moulting.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 200 meters

Climate zones

Subantarctic, Antarctic

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Macaroni Penguin. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons