The king penguin is the second largest species of penguin, smaller than but somewhat similar in appearance to the emperor penguin.
Region
Subantarctic Islands and Southern Ocean
Typical Environment
King penguins breed on beaches and open coastal plains of subantarctic islands with access to ice-free shorelines. Major colonies occur on South Georgia, Crozet, Kerguelen, Prince Edward, Heard, and Macquarie Islands. Outside the breeding season they disperse widely across the Southern Ocean, often tracking the Antarctic Polar Front where prey is abundant. They prefer areas with cold, nutrient-rich waters and strong upwellings that concentrate fish and squid.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 150 m
Climate Zone
Polar
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The king penguin is the second largest penguin, smaller than the emperor penguin but similar in appearance, with striking orange-yellow patches on the head and upper chest. It breeds in immense, noisy colonies on subantarctic islands and carries its single egg on its feet under a brood patch. Remarkably deep divers, they routinely reach 100–300 m and can exceed 400 m while pursuing prey in the Southern Ocean.
Close-up of A. p. patagonicus subspecies in St. Andrews Bay, South Georgia, British Overseas Territories, UK
Mounted skeleton of king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus)
Great colony of king penguins on Salisbury Plain in South Georgia
King penguin chick
King penguin moulting, with pin feathers visible
A pair of king penguins performs a courtship ritual on Salisbury Plain, South Georgia.
Mating king penguins at Macquarie Island
King penguin egg
Close-up of king penguin chick in South Georgia
A crèche of king penguin chicks at Gold Harbour, South Georgia
A pair of king penguin at Edinburgh Zoo in Edinburgh, Scotland
Pesto, a notable king penguin in the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
flightless; powerful swimmer using rapid flipper strokes
Social Behavior
Breeds in dense colonies that can number tens of thousands of pairs. Typically forms monogamous pairs within a season and lays a single egg, incubated on the feet under a brood pouch. Chicks often gather in crèches while adults forage at sea, and the species follows a protracted 14–16 month breeding cycle.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are loud, trumpeting calls with a distinctive two-voice quality produced by the syrinx. Adults use individualized calls to locate mates and chicks within crowded colonies.
