King Penguin

Identification

The king penguin is the second largest penguin species, standing 70 to 100 cm tall and weighing 9.3 to 18 kg. Males are slightly larger than females, though the sexes look similar otherwise and are best distinguished by their calls. At first glance, king penguins resemble their larger relatives, the emperor penguins, but several field marks separate them: the king penguin has a bright orange cheek patch (versus yellow and white in emperors), more orange on the upper chest, orange rather than pink markings on the lower mandible, a longer and straighter bill, larger flippers, and a noticeably sleeker body. The juvenile king penguin wears heavy dark brown down and looks quite different from the adult, but once moulted, resembles the adult with somewhat muted colouration.

Among other penguin species, king penguins are unmistakable due to their much larger size and taller frame, combined with their distinctive colourful markings and grizzled sooty-greyish back. Emperor penguin chicks, by contrast, are mostly grey with black and white masks.

Range & Habitat

King penguins breed on subantarctic islands between 45 and 55°S, including South Georgia, the Falkland Islands, southern Argentina, and other temperate islands of the region. The largest breeding populations are found on the Crozet Islands (around 455,000 pairs), the Prince Edward Islands (228,000 pairs), the Kerguelen Islands (240,000–280,000 pairs), and Macquarie Island in the Southern Ocean (around 70,000 pairs). The total global population is estimated at 2.23 million pairs and is currently increasing. The non-breeding range remains poorly understood, though vagrant birds have been recorded on the Antarctic Peninsula and in South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

Behaviour & Diet

King penguins are deep-diving specialists, repeatedly diving to depths exceeding 100 metres and recorded at depths greater than 300 metres. Their diet consists mainly of lanternfish, squid, and krill. Despite their impressive foraging abilities, king penguins face natural predators including giant petrels, skuas, the snowy sheathbill, leopard seals, and orcas.

Best Time & Places to See It

The Crozet Islands, Prince Edward Islands, and Kerguelen Islands in the Southern Ocean support the largest king penguin populations and offer the best opportunities for viewing. South Georgia archipelago and the Falkland Islands are also excellent destinations, though populations there were heavily depleted in the early 1900s by whalers who burned penguins for fuel. Macquarie Island provides another significant viewing location with around 70,000 breeding pairs.

Photography Tips

The king penguin's striking colourful markings—the bright orange cheek patches and chest plumage—photograph beautifully and are best captured in good light. Their larger size compared to other penguin species and their sleek profile make them relatively easy subjects. Colonies on subantarctic islands can be visited during breeding season, though access and conditions vary by location. The contrast between adults and juveniles in their brown down plumage offers interesting compositional opportunities if you visit during breeding periods when both are present.