They both have the yellow and black plumes joining on the top of the head. The difference is that the Macaroni has solid black feathers on the cheeks and under the chin on the throat, while the Royal penguins have white chins. Colonies are also located on the small islands off the southern tips of South America and Africa. There are an estimated total population of 12 million breeding pairs of Macaroni penguins. This penguin was named by the early English explorers.
Macaroni penguins build a crude nest by scraping a shallow hole in mud or gravel among rocks.
The first egg laid is smaller and less likely to hatch. It is often lost to predators and fighting that occurs in the large breeding colonies. The second egg is larger and more likely to hatch. The incubation, keeping the egg warm, is done by both male and female in long shifts. The egg usually hatches within 33 to 37 days.