Facts About Macaroni Penguins

The Macaroni penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) are the most numerous penguins in the world. Estimates place it at 12 million breeding pairs with the Chinstrap penguin the second most numerous. It got its name from English explorers from the way its crest of orange yellow feathers were similar to feathers worn in the hats of 18th century men who were known as macaronis. A term which was used in the song Yankee Doodle.

Macaroni Penguins Grooming Each Other -

Author Liam Quinn from Canada -

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license

Description

There are six species of crested penguin and the Macaroni is the largest of these crested birds. Though being 25 inches tall and weighing 11 pounds it is not as large as the Emperor or the King Penguin neither of which have crests.

Range

Macaronis can be found inhabiting the Antarctic and subantarctic regions. They have large populations established in various colonies on the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, Heard Island, Isles Crozet, Kerguelen and Marion Island. Despite their huge numbers they do come under threat from oil spills and the increase of fishing in the area.

Macaroni penguins look similar to other crested species. Their distinguishing feature is an orange, yellow crest which starts in a wide strip crossing their forehead to join between the centre of their eyes. They look most similar to Royal penguins though these usually have white faces where as Macaronis have black.

Diet

Macaronis live on a diet of fish, squid, krill and crustaceans. They hunt by pursuit diving often to depths of up to 100 feet though they have been observed at time at depths of 300 feet. They do hunt at night sometimes though they do not tend to dive more than twenty feet deep.

Breeding

Macaronis breed in huge, crowded, raucous colonies in the summer months. They like rough, sloping ground with nesting pairs taking using tussocks of grass and boulders for shelter.
The female lays two eggs. The first is smaller than the second and for unknown reasons seems less favoured and is often removed from the nest. Male and females take turns in incubation for the next 4 to 5 weeks until hatching takes place.

During the next 3 to 4 weeks the male usually stays and cares for the chick while the female hunts and returns daily with regurgitated food. In the next period of its life the chick will join a creche or nursery group with other chicks. Huddling together they provide warmth and a degree of protection for each other while their parents hunt food, in the day and return at night. The chicks will have grown enough in around 10 weeks to go out and hunt on their own.

Predators

On land their eggs and chicks are vulnerable to attack from the air by skuas, white gulls, petrels and other birds. In the sea Killer whale, Leopard seals and Sea Lions are their main predators.

References, Attributions and Further Reading

 

Image File:Macaroni Penguins grooming each other (5892388741).jpg From Wikimedia Commons - Macaroni Penguins Grooming Each Other - Author: Liam Quinn from Canada - Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license

 

British Antartic Survey, National Environment Research Council - Macaroni Penguins

Arkive, Macaroni penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus)