- Aptenodytes forsteri
Identification
Length 105-122cm
The largest penguin, mainly blackish-blue above and white below with yellow ear patch and upper breast. Bill blackish with purplish patch on lower mandible.
Similar Species
Differs from King Penguin in larger size, relatively shorter bill, blacker upperparts and different head pattern. Juvenile differs from juvenile King in whitish rather than yellow ear patch.
Distribution
Breeds at various sites on the Antarctic continent and the Dion Islands off the Antarctic Peninsula. Pelagic range mainly within open pack ice off the Antarctic zone but also recorded off Tierra del Fuego, the Falkland Islands and on the South Shetland and South Orkney Islands.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Breeds in winter on snow and sea-ice, otherwise at sea.
Behaviour
Diet
Fish and squid.
Breeding
Breeds on sea-ice close to Antarctic shores in June-February. Single egg is incubated by male resting on the feet under a flap of lower abdomen for about 60 days. Female takes over and feeds young which can swim after about 6 months.
Vocalisation
Various braying, trumpeting and squawking calls.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2012. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Emperor Penguin. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 17 February 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Emperor_Penguin