Photo: Christopher Michel / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Chinstrap Penguin
Pygoscelis antarcticus
Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus) — Penguins of Oceans & Seabirds.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus) is a member of the Spheniscidae family found in Antarctica and Oceans & Seabirds. Adults weigh 4.1 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 Pygoscelis
- Species antarcticus
Where it lives
Antarctic Pen. and satellites; Balleny I. (eastern Antarctica)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 4.1 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Spheniscidae
- Order
- Sphenisciformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Chinstrap 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 Chinstrap Penguin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus) belongs to the Spheniscidae family of the order Sphenisciformes. It occurs naturally across Antarctica and Oceans & Seabirds. Its distribution covers SO, AN Antarctic Pen. and satellites; Balleny I. (e Antarctica).
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 4.1 kg, with a wing length of about 10.1 cm and a tail of around 13.8 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 13,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Chinstrap Penguin?
The Chinstrap Penguin is a very large bird that weighs around 4.1 kg.
Where does the Chinstrap Penguin live?
The Chinstrap Penguin is found across Antarctica and Oceans & Seabirds with a range covering SO, AN Antarctic Pen. and satellites; Balleny I. (e Antarctica), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Chinstrap Penguin belong to?
The Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus) belongs to the Spheniscidae family, in the order Sphenisciformes.
What does the Chinstrap Penguin eat?
The Chinstrap Penguin hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Chinstrap Penguin migrate?
The Chinstrap Penguin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Chinstrap 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 Chinstrap Penguin make?
1 real field recording of the Chinstrap Penguin — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Chinstrap Penguin's range?
The Chinstrap Penguin has a mapped global range of about 13,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Spheniscidae
Critically Endangered
Endangered
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
More in Penguins
Least Concern
Endangered
Endangered
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern