Macaroni Penguin
The Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) is a species of penguin found in the subantarctic islands. It is easily recognized by its distinctive, vibrant yellow and orange crest of feathers that sweeps back from its forehead. The name "macaroni" comes from a term used in 18th-century England to describe a person with an extravagant hairstyle.
Macaroni Penguins are the most numerous penguin species, with a population of over 11 million pairs. They are a migratory species, spending most of their time at sea and only coming to land to breed. They form massive colonies, often sharing space with other penguin species.
Macaroni Penguin
Classification
Aves > Sphenisciformes > Spheniscidae > Eudyptes > E. chrysolophus
Native To
Conservation Status
Average Height
2 - 2.5 feet
(0.6 - 0.8 m)
Average Weight
10 - 15 lbs
(4.5 - 6.8 kg)
Average Life Span
10 - 15 years
Gestation Period
33 - 37 days
Did You Know?
The Macaroni Penguin is known for the prominent yellow-orange crest feathers above its eyes.
They are highly social birds, often nesting in huge colonies that can number in the hundreds of thousands.
Macaroni Penguins are excellent swimmers and can dive to depths of over 500 feet in search of krill, their primary food source.
They can be found throughout the sub-Antarctic islands and the Antarctic Peninsula.
The name "macaroni" comes from an 18th-century English term for a fashionable person who wore flamboyant and elaborate clothing, referring to the penguin's distinctive head feathers.
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