They have a white front and a black back. They also have a white ring around the eye that is most pronounced in the breeding season. Juveniles can be recognised by their white chins.
Chicks have uniform grey black plumage.
Height Adult Adelies are about 70 cm tall. Weight Weights vary through the year. Males weigh from 4.4 to 5.4 kg while females are lighter at 3.9 to 4.8 kg. Breeding locations Adelies breed on exposed rock all round the Antarctic continent. The total breeding population is estimated to be over 2,500,000 pairs.