#wildnature: Macaroni Penguin
Eudyptes chrysolophus
Penguins are very well-loved and popular creatures. Their wobbling on land is extremely comical. There are plenty of videos online documenting the absolute delight that is penguins. After all, penguins are one of the most fascinating and unique creatures on Earth.
- Population: 6.3 mln breeding pairs
- Weight: 4 - 7 kg
- Height: 70 cm
- Lifespan: 20 years or more
- Population Trend: Decreasing ↓
What's about the Macaroni Penguin? Medium-sized bulky penguin with a bulbous red bill, yellow head crest and black feathers which cleanly contrasting against the white. The Macaroni Penguin is thought to be the most numerous of the penguin species, generally found on sub-Antarctic islands, although one colony is known to exist on the Antarctic Peninsula. A huge colony is located near Cape Lockyer on Heard Island, a World Heritage protected area where the Macaroni Penguins build nest on surprisingly steep slopes.
How are they faring today? From the most recent estimates in 2013, there are only about 6.3 million breeding pairs left, representing a 47% reduction over three generations on the previous estimate of 9 million pairs. Those numbers meant that nearly 3 million pairs of penguins were lost in about 37 years, or about a million pairs lost every 150 months.
More info at DataZone BirdLifeFun Facts
- This species was named in the 18th century by English explorers for their yellow-orange tassels. The tassels resembled the feathers called “macaronis” on the hats worn by young fashionable men
- As a whole, Macaroni Penguins may eat as much as four million tons of krill annually
- In January 2010, Canon featured the Macaroni Penguin as part of its advertisement campaign “Wildlife As Canon Sees It” in the National Geographic Magazine