Photo: Christopher Michel / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Emperor Penguin
Aptenodytes forsteri
Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) — Penguins of Antarctica.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) is a member of the Spheniscidae family found in Antarctica. Adults weigh 33.6 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Sphenisciformes
- Family Spheniscidae Penguins
- Genus Aptenodytes
- Species forsteri
Quick facts
- Weight
- 33.6 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Spheniscidae
- Order
- Sphenisciformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Emperor 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 Emperor Penguin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) is a member of the Spheniscidae family, within the order Sphenisciformes. It occurs naturally across Antarctica. Its distribution covers AN Antarctic sea ice.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 33.6 kg, with a wing length of about 17.9 cm and a tail of around 11.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 83,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Emperor Penguin?
The Emperor Penguin is a very large bird that weighs around 33.6 kg.
Where does the Emperor Penguin live?
The Emperor Penguin is found across Antarctica with a range covering AN Antarctic sea ice, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Emperor Penguin belong to?
The Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) belongs to the Spheniscidae family, in the order Sphenisciformes.
What does the Emperor Penguin eat?
The Emperor Penguin hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Emperor Penguin migrate?
The Emperor Penguin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Emperor Penguin endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Emperor Penguin make?
1 real field recording of the Emperor 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 Emperor Penguin's range?
The Emperor Penguin has a mapped global range of about 83,000 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
Endangered
Endangered
Not Evaluated
Vulnerable
Endangered
Vulnerable
More in Penguins
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Endangered
Endangered
Least Concern