Photo: Liam Quinn from Canada / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
King Penguin
Aptenodytes patagonicus
King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) — Penguins of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 7 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) is a member of the Spheniscidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 11.7 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Sphenisciformes
- Family Spheniscidae Penguins
- Genus Aptenodytes
- Species patagonicus
Where it lives
Subantarctic is. beaches: Tierra del Fuego, Falkland Is., South Georgia, South Sandwich Is. (southwestern South Atlantic), Prince Edward, Crozet, Kerguelen and Heard is. (southwestern, southeastern South Indian), Macquarie I. (far southeast of Australia, southwestern South Pacific)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 11.7 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Spheniscidae
- Order
- Sphenisciformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Endangered
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The King Penguin hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The King Penguin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) belongs to the Spheniscidae family of the order Sphenisciformes. Its range spans Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers SO subantarctic is. beaches: Tierra del Fuego, Falkland Is., South Georgia, South Sandwich Is. (sw South Atlantic), Prince Edward, Crozet, Kerguelen and Heard is. (sw, se South Indian), Macquarie I. (far se of Australia, sw South Pacific).
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 11.7 kg, with a wing length of about 16.7 cm and a tail of around 6.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 25,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the King Penguin?
The King Penguin is a very large bird that weighs around 11.7 kg.
Where does the King Penguin live?
The King Penguin is found across Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering SO subantarctic is. beaches: Tierra del Fuego, Falkland Is., South Georgia, South Sandwich Is. (sw South Atlantic), Prince Edward, Crozet, Kerguelen and Heard is. (sw, se South Indian), Macquarie I. (far se of Australia, sw South Pacific), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the King Penguin belong to?
The King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) belongs to the Spheniscidae family, in the order Sphenisciformes.
What does the King Penguin eat?
The King Penguin hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the King Penguin migrate?
The King Penguin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the King Penguin endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the King Penguin make?
1 real field recording of the King Penguin — including its begging call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the King Penguin's range?
The King Penguin has a mapped global range of about 25,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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