macaroni penguin | bird | Britannica.com Macaroni penguin 1-12-2016 Alternative Title: Eudyptes chrysolophus Macaroni penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus), species of crested penguin (genus Eudyptes, order Sphenisciformes) characterized by a large reddish orange bill, a black face and chin, and a long crest of yellow-orange feathers that contrast with the black feathers on the head. The species is found on the Antarctic Peninsula , on a number of Antarctic and subantarctic islands in the Atlantic and Indian oceans , and on the islands near the coasts of Chile and Argentina. Macaroni penguins are often confused with royal penguins (E. schlegeli), and some ornithologists argue that both groups should be classified as a single species. The common name of ... (100 of 788 words) Macaroni penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus) fighting.

© Serge Ouachee Overview - Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) - Neotropical Birds Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) - Neotropical Birds Acknowledgments Berkeley Sound, East Falkland, Falkland Islands; 18 November 2012 © Project Penguins The most abundant species of penguin, the Macaroni Penguin breeds on widely dispersed islands in the sub-Antarctic of the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans, and is one of the few to breed off Tierra del Fuego. A typical member of the genus Eudyptes, the Macaroni has a bulbous red bill, red eyes, orange eye plumes contrasting with an all black head and back, white underparts and bright red feet. The Macaroni is a highly pelagic and migratory species and is likely to be found near land only when breeding. While at sea they feed mainly on crustaceans by pursuit-diving and have been known to dive to depths of 80 m, though they remain closer to the surface when feeding at night.

Help complete this species There are many ways to contribute — we need species information, photographs, audio, video, translations, maps, distribution data, and bird sightings. There's a role for everyone! Image Gallery Recommended Citation . 2010. Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus), Neotropical Birds Online (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; retrieved from Neotropical Birds Online: Macaroni Penguin Pictures and Photos - Photography - Bird | Wildlife | Nature - Christopher Taylor ID : 5251326 [3888 x 2592] SPECIES INFO The Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) is a species of penguin found from the Subantarctic to the Antarctic Peninsula. It is one of six species of crested penguin, and bears a distinctive yellow crest. An adult averages about 5.5 kg (12 lb) in weight and 70 cm (28 in) in length. The male and female are similar in the otherwise black and white plumage, although the former is slightly larger with a larger bill.

Like all penguins, it is flightless, with a streamlined body and wings stiffened and flattened into flippers for a marine lifestyle. Their diet consists of a variety of crustaceans, mainly krill, as well as small fish and cephalopods. They moult once a year, spending about three to four weeks ashore, before returning to the sea. Numbering up to 100,000 individuals, the breeding colonies of the Macaroni Penguin are among the largest and densest of all penguin species. There are about 18 million Macaroni Penguins, and the number is decreasing, due to unideal environmental conditions and their many predators. These factors result in their vulnerable conservation status. Taxonomy The Macaroni Penguin was described from the Falkland Islands in 1837 by German naturalist Johann Friedrich von Brandt. It is a member of the genus Eudyptes, which is derived from the Ancient Greek words eu "good", and dyptes "diver". The species epithet chrysolophus is derived from the Greek words chryse "golden", and lophos "crest". There are six species in the genus, collectively known as crested penguins.

The common name was given to the species by English explorers, probably due to the bird's conspicuous yellow crest. Maccaronism was a term for a particular style in 18th-century England marked by flamboyant or excessive ornamentation. A person who adopted this fashion was labeled a maccaroni or macaroni, as in the song Yankee Doodle. Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA evidence suggests that the Macaroni Penguin split from its closest relative, the Royal Penguin (Eudyptes schlegeli), around 1.5 million years ago. Although Macaroni Penguins and Royal Penguins have always been considered separate species, the close similarities of their DNA sequences has recently led some, such as the Australians Les Christidis and Walter Boles, to reclassify the Royal as a subspecies of the Macaroni. The two species are very similar in appearance, but Royal Penguins have white faces instead of the usually black faces of the Macaronis. Description Macaroni Penguins are known for their conspicuous orange and yellow crests. The Macaroni Penguin is a large, crested penguin, similar in appearance to other members of the genus Eudyptes, such as the similar but larger Royal Penguin.

The adult Macaroni Penguin has an average length of around 71 cm (28 in); the weight varies markedly depending on time of year and sex. Males may average from 3.3 kg (7 lb) after incubating, or 3.7 kg (8 lb) post-molt, to 6.4 kg (14 lb) pre-molt, while females may average 3.2 kg (7 lb) post-molt, to 5.7 kg (13 lb) pre-molt. The head, chin, throat and upperparts are black, and sharply markated against the white underparts. The black plumage has a bluish sheen when new and brownish when old. The most stiking feature is the yellow crest that arises from a patch on the center of the forehead, and extends horizontally backwards to the nape. The flippers are blue-black on the upper surface with a white trailing edge, and mainly white underneath with a black tip and leading edge. The large bulbous bill is orange-brown and the iris is red. There is a patch of pinkish bare skin from the base of the bill to the eye. The legs and feet are pink.

The male and female are similar in appearance, although the former tend to be slightly larger. The former also bear larger bills, which average around 6.1 cm (2.4 in), opposed to 5.4 cm (2.1 in) in females; this has been used to tell the sexes apart. Immature birds are distinguished by their smaller size, smaller duller brown bill, dark grey chin and throat, and absent or underdeveloped head plumes, often just a scattering of yellow feathers. The crest is fully developed in birds aged 3-4 years, a year or two before breeding age. Macaroni Penguins moult once a year, a process in which they replace all of their old feathers. Before moulting, they spend around two weeks fattening themselves up because moulting requires much energy. During moulting, they do not feed because without feathers they cannot go in the water to forage for food. The process typically takes from three to four weeks, which they spend sitting ashore. Once they are finished moulting, they go back to sea. In the spring they return to their colonies to mate.

Vocalization The calls of this species are similar to other crested penguins; birds are especially noisy in colonies when establishing territories and forming pairs, and quieten down during incubation. During this pariod, parents make trumpeting calls when changing over shifts at the nest; birds recognise each other more by voice than by location. Calls recorded at colonies on South Georgia have a more rapid rhythm and lower pitch than those on Kerguelen and Crozet Islands. Distribution and habitat A 1993 review estimated that there are a minimum of 11,841,600 pairs of Macaroni Penguins worldwide. Macaroni Penguins range from the sub-Antarctic to the Antarctic Peninsula. There are a minimum of 216 breeding colonies at 50 sites. In South America, Macaroni Penguins are found in southern Chile, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and South Orkney Islands. They also occupy much of Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula, including the northern South Shetland Islands, Bouvet Island, the Prince Edward and Marion islands, the Crozet Islands, the Kerguelen Islands, the Heard and McDonald Islands.

While foraging for food, groups will range north to the islands off Australia, New Zealand, southern Brazil, Tristan da Cunha, and South Africa. Behavior Like other penguin species, The Macaroni Penguin is a social animal in its nesting and its foraging behavior; its breeding colonies are among the largest and most densely populated of all penguin species. Outside the breeding season, the Macaroni penguin is pelagic; birds disperse into the sea from April or May until October. Living in colonies results in a high level of social interaction between birds, which has led to a large repertoire of visual as well as vocal displays. These behaviours peak early in the breeding period, and colonies particularly quieten when the male Macaroni Penguins are off at sea. Agonistic displays are those which are intended to confront or drive off, or alternately appease and avoid conflict with, other individuals. Macaroni penguins, particularly those on adjacent nests, may engage in bill-jousting; birds lock bills and wrestle, each trying to unseat the other, as well as batter with flippers and peck or strike their opponent's nape.

Submissive displays include the slender walk, where birds move through the colony with feathers flattened, flippers moved to the front of the body, and head and neck hunched, and general hunching of head and neck when incubating or standing at the nest. Diet A macaroni penguin swimming at Twycross Zoo. The diet of the Macaroni Penguin consists of a variety of crustaceans, squid and fish, although the proportions that each make up vary with locality and season. Krill, particularly Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), account for over 90% of food during breeding season. Cephalopods and small fish such as the Marbled rockcod (Notothenia rossii), Painted notie (Lepidonotothen larseni), Champsocephalus gunneri, the lanternfish species Krefftichthys anderssoni, Protomyctophum tenisoni and P. normani become more important during chick-rearing. Foraging for food is generally conducted on a daily basis, from dawn (0500-0700) to dusk, when there are chicks to feed.

Overnight trips are sometimes made, especially as the chicks grow older. In contrast, birds venture out for 10-20 days during incubation, and before the molt. The habits of Macaroni Penguins outside the breeding season are unknown. Foraging distance from colonies has been measured at around 50 km (31 mi) at South Georgia, offshore over the continental shelf, and anywhere from 59 to 303 kilometres (37 to 188 mi) at Marion Island. Macaroni Penguins normally forage at depths of 15 to 70 metres (49 to 230 ft), but have been recorded diving down to 100 metres (330 ft) on occasions. Some night foraging does occur, but these dives are much shallower, ranging from only 3 to 6 metres (9.8 to 20 ft) in depth. Dives rarely exceed two minutes in duration. All dives are 'V'-shaped, that is no time is spent at the bottom, and around half the time on a foraging trip is spent diving.

Birds have been calculated as catching anywhere from 4-16 krill, or 40-50 amphipods per dive. Predators The Macaroni Penguin's predators consist of birds and aquatic mammals. The Leopard Seal (Hydrurga leptonyx), Antarctic Fur Seal (Arctocephalus gazella) and Subantarctic Fur Seal (A. tropicalis) sometimes hunt adult Macaroni Penguins in the water. Colonies suffer low rates of predation if undisturbed; predators generally only taking eggs and young that have been left unattended or deserted. Skua species, the Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis alba), and Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) prey on eggs, and skuas and Giant Petrels also sometimes take chicks. Courtship and breeding Female Macaroni Penguins can begin breeding at around five years of age, while the males do not normally breed until at least six years old. Females breed at a younger age because the male population is larger. The surplus of male penguins allows the female penguins to select more experienced male partners as soon as the females are physically able to breed.

Commencing a few days after females arrive to the colony, sexual displays are used by males to attract partners and advertise their territory, and by pairs once together at the nest site and at changeover of incubation shifts. In the ecstatic display, a penguin bows forward, making loud throbbing sounds, and then extends its head and neck up until the neck and beak are vertical. The bird then waves its head from side to side braying loudly. Birds also engage in mutual bowing, trumpeting, and preening. Adult Macaroni Penguins typically begin to breed late in October, and lay their eggs in early November. The nest itself is a shallow scrape in the ground which may be lined with some pebbles, stones, or grass, or nestled in a clump of tussock grass (on South Georgia Island). Nests are densely packed, ranging from around 66 cm apart in the middle of a colony to 86 cm at the edges. A fertile Macaroni Penguin will lay two eggs each breeding season.

The first egg to be laid weighs 90"?94 grams (3.2"?3.3 oz), 61"?64% the size of the 145"?155-gram (5.1"?5.5 oz) second, and is extremely unlikely to survive. Its fate is mostly unknown, but studies on the related Royal Penguin and Erect-crested Penguin show the female tips the egg out, when the larger second egg is laid. The task of incubating the egg is divided into three roughly equal sessions of around 12 days each over a five week period. The first is shared by both parents, followed by the male returning to sea, leaving the female alone to tend the egg. Upon the male's return, the female goes off to sea and does not return until the chick has hatched. The second egg hatches around 34 days after it is laid. Macaroni Penguins typically leave their breeding colony by April or May. From the moment the egg is hatched, the male Macaroni Penguin cares for the newly hatched chick.

For about three weeks, or twenty-three to twenty-five days, the male protects its offspring and helps to keep it warm, since only a few of its feathers have grown in at this point. The female brings food to the chick every one to two days. At this early stage, chicks have not grown their adult feathers. When they are not being protected by the adult male penguins, the chicks form groups with each other called creches. They do this in order to keep warm and stay protected. Once their adult feathers have grown in, at about 60"?70 days, they are ready to go out to sea on their own. Conservation Although the number of Macaroni Penguins is currently high, the decline of the overall population in the last 30 years has resulted in the classification of the species as globally Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Long-term monitoring programs are underway at a number of breeding colonies, and many of the islands that support breeding populations of this penguin are protected reserves. The Heard Islands and McDonald Islands are World Heritage Sites for the Macaroni Penguin. If the threats facing the Macaroni Penguin continue unabated, it seems likely that the population decline will continue.

Cited text Williams, Tony D. (1995). The penguins: Spheniscidae. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-854667-X. Penguins | Basic Facts About Penguins | Defenders of Wildlife Penguins Basic Facts About Penguins Penguins are aquatic, flightless birds that are highly adapted to life in the water. Their distinct tuxedo-like appearance is called countershading, a form of camouflage that helps keep them safe in the water. Penguins do have wing-bones, though they are flipper-like and extremely suited to swimming. Penguins are found almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere, where they catch their food underwater and raise their young on land. © Joan Cambray Diet Staples: Krill, fish and squid. In general, penguins closer to the equator eat more fish and penguins closer to Antarctica eat more squid and krill. Population Did You Know? Larger penguin species are found in colder climates where their large body mass enables them to cope with the conditions, while smaller penguins inhabit warmer climes.

The penguin species with the highest population is the Macaroni penguin with 11,654,000 pairs. The species with the lowest population is the endangered Galapagos penguin with between 6,000-15,000 individuals. Range Penguins can be found on every continent in the Southern Hemisphere from the tropical Galapagos Islands (the Galapagos penguin) located near South America to Antarctica (the emperor penguin). Behavoir Penguins can spend up to 75% of their lives in the water. They do all of their hunting in the water. Their prey can be found within 60 feet of the surface, so penguins have no need to swim in deep water. They catch prey in their beaks and swallow them whole as they swim. Some species only leave the water for molting and breeding. Did You Know? The emperor penguin breeds in the coldest environment of any bird species; air temperatures may reach -40° (F/C), and wind speeds may reach 89 miles per hour (144 km/hr)! Penguins are social birds. Many species feed, swim and nest in groups.

During the breeding season, some species form large groups, or “rookeries”, that include thousands of penguins. Each penguin has a distinct call, allowing individuals to find their mate and their chicks even in large groups. Reproduction Mating Season: Varies depending on the species, though most breed during spring and summer. Incubation: Varies from 1 month-66 days depending on the species. Number of offspring: King and emperor penguins lay one egg. All other species of penguin lay two eggs. Macaroni Penguin: The Animal Files - Main Characteristics Macaroni Penguins are the most numerous species of penguin. They are very similar to royal penguins and the two are often confused. They reach heights up to 71 cms (28 inches) and they weigh between 3.5 and 6.5 kgs (7.75 - 14 lbs). They have a black face, chin and back and they are coloured white on their front. Their beak is red/brown in colour and they have a yellow, orange and black crest on their head.

Macaroni Penguins are noisy, aggressive birds and they emit raucous braying sounds when on land and short barks at sea. Habitat Macaroni Penguins are found in the Antarctic region and they breed on many islands including South Georgia, Crozet, Macdonald, Keuguelen and Heard. Diet Macaroni Penguins feed on krill, fish and squid. They capture their prey on pursuit dives at depths of 15 - 60 m (50 - 200 ft) although they can dive to 90 m (300 ft) if required. These dives rarely last longer than 2 minutes and mainly occur during the day. They sometimes feed during the night but they only dive up to 6 m (20 ft) in depth during night time forages. Breeding During the summer months Macaroni Penguins breed in huge, tightly packed colonies. Females lay 2 eggs in a shallow scrape in the ground but usually only the second, larger egg is incubated . The egg is incubated by both parents and after approximately 34 days it hatches.

The chick is looked after by the male for the first 3 - 4 weeks while the female brings food for them both. When the chicks are large enough they join a nursery group with other chicks, which is known as a creche. This enables both parents to hunt for food to satisfy the chick's growing appetite. When the chick reaches 10 weeks old it will have gained its full adult plumage and is ready to go to sea. Predators Predators of Macaroni Penguins include leopard seals , sea lions and killer whales . Eggs and chicks are preyed upon by skuas, gulls, petrels and other shore birds. Subspecies There are no subspecies of the Macaroni Penguin. Interesting Facts Macaroni Penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus) Macaroni Penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus) Penguin General Info ... Penguin Species & Photo Gallery The Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) is a species of penguin closely related to the Royal Penguin . The Macaroni Penguin is a black and white penguin with yellow and black plumes on the top of its head.

Macaroni Penguins average about 5 kg (11 lbs) in weight and average 50-70 cm (20-28 in) in height. They eat squid, krill and other crustaceans. Fertile Macaroni Penguins lay two eggs - the first egg laid is ignored by the penguin and usually eaten by ever-present skuas , while the second egg hatches around 34 days after it is laid. They cannot fly, yet they can swim rather efficently. Range The Macaroni Penguin population is decreasing most rapidly of all penguin species, with an estimated world population of less than one million breeding pairs. They breed in at least 216 colonies at 50 sites, including southern Chile, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, the South Orkney and South Shetland Islands, Bouvet Island, Prince Edward Islands of South Africa, Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands and very locally on the Antarctic Peninsula. Status Despite its large population, the Macaroni Penguin has been classified as Vulnerable by BirdLife International, as its population has been reduced by at least 30% over three generations.

The main threats to its breeding grounds are those common to all Southern Ocean species, such as the existing and potential impact of commercial fishing, ocean warming and oil pollution. Name The name "Macaroni" is said to come from an English Group called "the Macaroni's", who's hats looked the same as a Macaroni Penguin's head. The name is used as a reference to the bird's conspicuous "feather in its cap" in the song Yankee Doodle, in which the subject sticks "a feather in his cap and calls it Macaroni. "Macaroni" at one time being a fancy ("dandy") style of Italian dress widely imitated in England and America. References BirdLife International (2005). Eudyptes chrysolophus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 05 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is vulnerable. (Ref: Wikipedia.org) Please Note: The articles or images on this page are the sole property of the authors or photographers. Please contact them directly with respect to any copyright or licensing questions. Thank you.

The Avianweb strives to maintain accurate and up-to-date information; however, mistakes do happen. If you would like to correct or update any of the information, please send us an e-mail . THANK YOU! Macaroni penguin videos, photos and facts - Eudyptes chrysolophus | ARKive Top Macaroni penguin biology The macaroni penguin is mainly active during the day. Very little is known about this species outside of the breeding season; most studies have been carried out on breeding birds. The macaroni penguin feeds mainly on krill (shrimp-like crustaceans ), although in some areas fish become an increasingly important food source as the breeding season progresses (5) . It has been estimated that macaroni penguins alone consume four million tonnes of krill each year (6) . In some populations, dives typically take the form of a V-shape, reaching depths of 48 metres (4) , although in other populations, the dive profiles are more complex (5) . Macaroni penguins return to the breeding colonies each year in October and November, with males arriving before the females (4) .

Individuals often have to walk hundreds of metres over screes to reach their nest site (2) . Macaroni penguins are monogamous and pair bonds are long-lasting. Each year the pair reunites at the same nest location, recognising each other by means of their calls (4) . Pairs often perform a display known as the ‘ecstatic display’, in which their heads are swung from side to side (4) . The nest is a simple scrape in the ground, typically lined with small rocks. In some cases, it may be built on a patch of grass and lined with grass shoots (4) . Two eggs are laid; the second egg is always larger than the first and is usually the only successful egg per nest. If both eggs are lost, the pair is unable to produce a replacement brood (3) . The incubation of the eggs takes up to 37 days and is shared by the adults in three main shifts. The first shift lasts for 8 to 12 days and is shared by the male and female. The second shift (12 to 14 days) is carried out by the female, and the final shift (9 to 11 days) by the male.

During each shift, the non- incubating penguin goes to forage at sea during the day (2) (4) . The newly hatched macaroni penguin chicks are helpless, and for the first 23 to 25 days they are guarded and brooded by the male, while the female forages and feeds the chicks each day by regurgitating food (4) . After this period, the chicks have developed their first plumage, which allows them to maintain their own temperature and so leave the nest. They cluster into small crèches for protection; at this stage, both adults are able to forage (3) . Most chicks will have fledged by 60 to 70 days of age (4) , at which point they have developed waterproof plumage (3) . The macaroni penguin does not start to breed until five years of age in females and six in males (4) . After the chicks leave the breeding colonies, the adult macaroni penguins feed at sea for around three weeks before the annual moult . During the moult they are unable to forage, as the plumage is not watertight.

After the 25 day moult the adults leave the colonies to spend the winter at sea (3) . In undisturbed macaroni penguin colonies, predation is relatively low. Eggs (mainly deserted ones) are predated upon by skuas, sheathbills, and kelp gulls, while weakened chicks, or those separated from the crèche, are taken by skuas and giant petrels. Whilst at sea, adult macaroni penguins are predated upon by leopard seals and Antarctic fur seals (4) . Top Macaroni penguin range The macaroni penguin has a circumpolar range (4) . It breeds at 50 known sites on sub-Antarctic islands in the South Atlantic and southern Indian Oceans, with one breeding site on the Antarctic Peninsula (2) (4) . The main breeding populations are located on the islands of Crozet, Heard, McDonald, Kerguelen and South Georgia (2) . In 12 years, study populations on South Georgia have decreased by 65 percent and it is thought that the overall population on South Georgia has declined by 50 percent in the last 20 years (2) .

Most of the world population of the macaroni penguin has declined by at least 20 percent in the last 36 years (equivalent to three generations), but surveys are required to confirm the status of this species (2) . The range of the macaroni penguin outside of the breeding season is unknown, although it is thought that it stays in Antarctic waters (4) . Top Macaroni penguin threats Many penguin species of the Southern Oceans Ecosystem, including the macaroni penguin, share a common set of factors that are causing population reductions (2) (6) . Introduced predators such as cats and rats are a great problem for breeding birds on a number of islands, including South Georgia. Over-fishing is a very serious factor, in particular the harvesting of krill, the main food source of the macaroni penguin. Further pressures include oil spills and increasing tourism, as well as potential climate change, particularly as penguins are extremely sensitive to changes in sea temperature and ocean currents and the consequent decrease in prey availability (6) .

Top Macaroni penguin conservation Although numbers of macaroni penguins are high, the decline of the overall population in the last 30 years has resulted in the classification of the species as globally Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (1) . Long-term monitoring programmes are underway at a number of breeding colonies, and many of the islands that support breeding populations of this penguin are protected reserves (2) . The islands of Heard and McDonald are World Heritage Sites (2) . If the suite of threats facing the macaroni penguin continues unabated, it seems likely that the population declines will continue. Penguin Facts: Species & Habitat Penguin Facts: Species & Habitat By Alina Bradford, Live Science Contributor | September 22, 2014 04:30pm ET MORE Credit: Dr. Robert Ricker, NOAA/NOS/ORR Penguins are torpedo-shaped, flightless birds that live in the southern regions of the Earth. Though many people imagine a small, black-and-white animal when they think of penguins, these birds actually come in a variety of sizes, and some are very colorful. For example, crested penguins sport a crown of yellow feathers.

Blushes of orange and yellow mark the necks of emperor and king penguins. What look like bright yellow, bushy eyebrows adorn the heads of some species, such as the Fiordland, royal, Snares and rockhopper penguins. The macaroni penguin's name comes from the crest of yellow feathers on its head, which looks like the 18th-century hats of the same name. A light yellow mask covers the face of the yellow-eyed penguin around the eyes. An Adélie penguin on Penguin Island, which forms part of the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica. Credit: Gemma Clucas According to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), there are 19 species of penguin. (Some experts, however, say the eastern rockhopper is a subspecies of the southern rockhopper.) [ Gallery: Photos of 18 Penguin Species ] The smallest penguin species is the little (also called little blue) penguin. These birds grow to 10 to 12 inches (25.4 to 30.48 centimeters) tall and weigh only 2 to 3 lbs. (0.90 to 1.36 kilograms).

The largest penguin is the emperor penguin. It grows to 36 to 44 inches (91.44 to 111.76 cm) tall and weighs 60 to 90 lbs (27.21 to 40.82 kg). Where do penguins live? Considered marine birds, penguins live up to 80 percent of their lives in the ocean, according to the New England Aquarium . All penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere, though it is a common myth that they all live in Antarctica. In fact, penguins can be found on every continent in the Southern Hemisphere. It is also a myth that penguins can only live in cold climates. The Galapagos penguin, for example, lives on tropical islands at the equator. What do penguins eat? Penguins are carnivores; they eat only meat. Their diet includes krill (tiny crustaceans), squid and fish. Some species of penguin can make a large dent in an area's food supply.

For example, the breeding population of Adélie penguins (about 2,370,000 pairs) can consume up to 1.5 million metric tons (1.5 billion kg) of krill, 115,000 metric tons (115 million kg) of fish and 3,500 metric tons (3.5 million kg) of squid each year, according to Sea World . The yellow-eyed penguin is very tenacious when foraging for food. It will dive as deep as 120 meters (393.70 feet) up to 200 times a day looking for fish, according to the Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust . Mating & baby penguins A group of penguins is called a colony, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. During breeding season, penguins come ashore to form huge colonies called rookeries, according to Sea World. Most penguins are monogamous. This means that male and female pairs will mate exclusively with each other for the duration of mating season. In many cases, the male and female will continue to mate with each other for most of their lives.

For example, research has found that chinstrap penguins re-paired with the same partner 82 percent of the time and gentoo penguins re-paired 90 percent of the time. At around three to eight years old, a penguin is mature enough to mate. Most species breed during the spring and summer. The male usually starts the mating ritual and will pick out a nice nesting site before he approaches a female. After mating, the female emperor or king penguin will lay a single egg. All other species of penguins lay two eggs. The two parents will take turns holding the eggs between their legs for warmth in a nest. The one exception is the emperor penguin . The female of this species will place the egg on the male's feet to keep warm in his fat folds while she goes out and hunts for several weeks. When penguin chicks are ready to hatch, they use their beaks to break through the shell of their eggs. This process can take up to three days. After the chicks emerge, the parents will take turns feeding their offspring with regurgitated food. Penguin parents can identify their offspring by unique calls that the chick will make. Emperor penguins may migrate to find new nesting grounds.

Credit: Michelle LaRue Macaroni penguin | TravelWild Expeditions Macaroni penguin Introduction to Macaroni Penguins The most numerous of all the world’s penguins, the macaroni penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) was named for the flamboyant plumage of its golden-orange forehead crest. Mid-18th century British explorers were reminded of an outlandish clothing fashion trend of their day called "maccaroni." "Macaroni" was also incorporated into the famous American Revolutionary War tune, "Yankee Doodle"—who "stuck a feather in his hat and called it macaroni." The phrase was co-opted from a British military tune used to mock the disheveled, disorganized and "naïve" "Yankees" with whom the British served in the French and Indian War. Macaroni penguin Researchers estimate that upwards of 11 million breeding pairs of macaroni penguins populate the Southern Ocean. While the breeding numbers of the species are still relatively high, researchers have noticed an alarming decline in the population, possibly due to climate change and its effect on penguin food supplies.

Identifying Macaroni Penguins—Physical Characteristics Macaroni penguins are one of the largest crested penguins (the closely-related royal penguin is slightly larger) with an average length of 28 inches (70cm) and an average weight of 12 pounds (5.5kg). Their weight fluctuates greatly due to fasting while breeding and molting. The male is slightly larger than the female. Like most penguins they are a predominantly black and white bird; the head and upperparts are black and the underparts are white. The bill is bulbous and orange-brown, the eyes red, and a patch of pinkish bare skin extends from the base of the bill to the eye. The legs and feet are pink. Both males and females sport their signature golden-orange crests, which extend from the forehead and sweep backward above each eye. Juvenile plumage is duller, the bill is dark and the crest is usually not developed. In the field they can be confused with rockhopper and royal penguins, although the home range of royal penguins rarely overlaps the range of macaronis.

Distribution and Migration of Macaroni Penguins Macaroni penguins are seen on TravelWild cruises on the sub–Antarctic Islands and, occasionally, on the northwestern Antarctic Peninsula and its adjacent islands. The largest breeding populations are found on the islands of South Georgia, Crozet, Kerguelen, Heard and McDonald. When not breeding or molting the penguins are pelagic, living on the open ocean and migrating long distances in the winter (April–September). At sea they are sometimes seen off the southern coasts of Chile and Argentina. A 2009 study found that macaroni penguins from Kerguelen travelled over 6,000 miles (10,000km) in the central Indian Ocean. During the non-breeding/molting season, it is rare to see a macaroni penguin on land. Macaroni Penguin Habitat Macaroni penguins at Royal Bay, South Georgia Macaroni penguins breed among rocky slopes and outcrops, along beaches, and among dense grassy tussocks in very noisy colonies. On some sub-Antarctic islands their nest sites can be on steep, high mountains below towering glaciers.

These sites are often easily spotted—the areas have been denuded by penguins pulling grass out of the tussock, as well as by the effects of over-fertilization from the nitrogen in their droppings. When not breeding or molting they live on the open ocean. Macaroni Penguin Diet Macaroni penguins feed mainly on krill, but will occasionally eat other small crustaceans, fish and squid. Prey is captured by diving to depths of 50–200 feet. Dives rarely exceed two minutes in duration. Macaroni Penguin Behavior Macaroni penguins often swim with a porpoising action, travelling just below the water surface and periodically leaping into the air to take short breaths without slowing. Their speed averages six miles per hour (10km/h). “Porpoising” helps them avoid predation by fur seals, leopard seals and killer whales. On land their main predator is the skua which snatches unguarded penguin eggs and chicks from nests. Kelp gulls and giant petrels are also a threat. Like most penguins they have an elaborate set of calls, bows and displays to keep their pair bond secure and to aid in locating, identifying and feeding their chicks.

On land during the breeding season, macaronis devote much time to preening to remove dirt and parasites and to maintain the waterproof condition of their plumage. Mutual preening also helps to reinforce the pair bond. Macaroni Penguin Breeding and Mating During October macaroni penguins go ashore following a winter at sea. They assemble in huge colonies, first to locate or to choose mates, then to incubate eggs and rear their chicks. Females begin breeding around age five while males start later, around age six. Studies have shown three-quarters of these penguins will keep the same mate and often return to the same nest site. Nests are scraped out of mud or gravel on rocky coasts and low cliffs and lined with a few small stones. On South Georgia some birds nest on flattened tussock grass. Two eggs are laid in early November. The first one is small and rarely hatches or, if it does, the chick is rarely raised to maturity. Macaroni penguins nesting Incubation duties are divided into three shifts. During the first shift of 12 days, both parents incubate the egg, then the male goes to sea leaving the female to do the second shift alone.

Upon the male’s return for the third shift, the female goes to sea and does not return until the chicks have hatched—sometimes a chick may have to wait for up to a week after hatching to receive its first meal. Hatching occurs after 35 (+/-) days of incubation. The male broods the chick while the female forages, returning and regurgitating food daily, for approximately 25 days. The time spent foraging increases as the chick grows larger and demands more food. Macaroni penguins rarely hunt farther than 25 miles away from the nest site during chick rearing. Parents locate their chick using the nest and vocalizations as identifiers. At the end of 25 days, the chick has developed a thick fluffy coat of feathers called the mesoptile plumage. These special feathers keep it warm enough to allow both parents to be away foraging for food. The chicks gather in large crèches for protection from predators and cold weather. Their feathers are only effective when dry, so the chick is unable to forage. Rain can be a threat, as can excessive heat in the crèches.

At 11 weeks of age, chicks develop their waterproof plumage and they fledge to sea. They still lack the crests of the adults but have a scattering of small yellow feathers; the crest develops fully by 3–4 years of age, a year or two before breeding. After the chicks fledge, adults spend around three weeks at sea replenishing their supply of fat in preparation for their annual molt. It is critical that the bird have adequate fat reserves prior to molting, as they do not feed during the 25-day molt and will temporarily lose many of their insulating feathers. Molting is necessary to replace worn feathers in order to maintain plumage that is waterproof and insulating. While molting, the penguins are relatively sedentary and remain ashore without eating. In April, the adults leave the breeding/molting site and head to sea. Macaroni Penguin Social Behavior Macaroni penguins tend toward monogamy and pair bonds are long lasting. Each year the pair reunites at the same nest location, recognizing each other by their calls.

The birds are very vocal and showy during mating displays, communicating by complex ritual behaviors, such as head and flipper waving, trumpeting, bowing, gesturing and preening. Pairs often perform the “ecstatic display” during which a penguin bows forward, making loud throbbing sounds, and then extends its head and neck upward until the neck and beak are vertical. The bird then waves its head from side to side while braying loudly. Macaroni penguins are thought to live between 8 and 15 years.

Question: The macaroni is a breed of which bird?
Answer: Penguin