Birds · Sphenisciformes · Spheniscidae

King Penguin

Aptenodytes patagonicus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The king penguin is a bird of the penguin family (Spheniscidae). It is the second largest penguin among the 18 penguin species in the world, after the emperor penguin. It is a bird that migrates in search of food from the subantarctic islands to circumpolar Antarctic waters.

Weight

11.5 kg – 12.8 kg

Size

85 cm – 95 cm

Lifespan

27 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Colony

Lives in large concentrations, often for breeding reasons.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

OceanPolarCarnivore Diurnal Colonial Bird Ocean Polar

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Fun facts

reproducciónIt has the longest breeding cycle of any penguin — over a year — so many pairs manage to raise only two chicks every three years.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton
Habitat & environment: Subantarctic islands and the waters of the Southern Ocean. It breeds on ice-free beaches and coastal plains on South Georgia, Crozet, Kerguelen, Prince Edward, Marion and Macquarie
Birth weight: Born semi-altricial, covered in fine down
Size at birth: Born covered in down and dependent on its parents for more than a year
Sexual maturity: 4.7 years
Gestation / incubation: 52-56 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 1 egg per clutch

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aptenodytes_patagonicus

Where to find it

See its range on the interactive map

Best time: From November to March on South Georgia, Crozet or the Falkland Islands, when the colonies are at their busiest; because the breeding cycle lasts more than a year, there are chicks present at all times.