Eudyptes chrysolophus
macaroni penguin

The macaroni penguin is found on the edge of Antarctica and Sub-Antarctic islands south of the Americas and Africa. Large populations of this penguin can also be found in Chile, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, South Shetland Islands, Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands, and McDonald Islands. (Stonehouse, 1975)

Macaroni penguins live in Antarctica in rocky, water-bound areas, on rocks and cliffs above the ocean. (Stonehouse, 1975)

The Macaroni penguin is a medium-sized bird that stands about 71 centimeters tall and weighs between 5 to 6 kg. Females are usually smaller than males. Males and females are monomorphic. They have orange, yellow, and black crests that join on the top of the head. This penguin has a red bill, and the chin, face and under the throat have solid black feathers. (Stonehouse, 1975)

Macaroni penguins live in large colonies of up to 2.5 million birds, mostly in breeding pairs. Macaroni colonies are found on rocky cliffs and hillsides. Unlike birds of flight, whose bones are hollow to allow for flying, penguins have solid bones to enable deeper dives. The weight of their bones also allows them to remain under water for long periods of time, they typically surface after two or three minutes to breathe. As they swim, macaroni penguins use their webbed feet to steer, with the help of their tails, which serve as a rudder. (Levick, 1914; Stonehouse, 1975)

Although very near-sighted on land, penguins have exceptional vision in the water. Their eyes, like the many sea animals, are attuned to the colors of the sea. This excellent vision is needed to avoid predation by leopard seals and killer whales, which are their primary predators in the ocean. On land their main predator is the skua (a large bird) which snatches penguin's chicks from nests. The penguin communicates by complex ritual behaviors such as head and flipper waving, calling, bowing, gesturing and preening. Courtship and mating rituals include so called "ecstatic displays" where a bird, typically an unattached male, pumps his chest several times with his head stretched upwards and with flippers stretched outwards, projects a harsh loud braying sound. This can result in a mass trumpeting by other males, which is believed to help synchronize the breeding cycle. (Levick, 1914; Stonehouse, 1975)

Macaroni penguins live almost entirely on krill (Euphasiidae) supplemented with up to five percent squid. They also eat some fish and amphipod crustaceans (Amphipoda). Macaroni penguins fast for up to forty days during the breeding season. (Burham and Burham, 1996)

Primary predators of macaroni penguins in the water are killer whales (Orca orcinus) and leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx). In colonies, skuas (Stercorariidae) prey on macaroni penguin nestlings and other weak individuals. As are most penguins, macaroni penguins are counter-shaded in the water, making them difficult to see. They use their agile swimming abilities, vision, and association with other macaroni penguins to be vigilant to predators and avoid capture in the water. (Levick, 1914; Stonehouse, 1975)

There are no known adverse effects of macaroni penguins on humans.

Macaroni penguins live in large colonies and they represent a large potential food resource, but their economic importance is minor or insignificant to humans. Whalers and seal hunters of the nineteenth century visited some penguin colonies for meat and eggs, and there once was a penguin oil industry which took large numbers of birds but by the early 20th century, this was no longer profitable.

Macaroni penguin population status is stable and increasing. They are among the most numerous penguin species in the world with a population of approximately 9 million. They are vulnerable to changes in the environment such as pollution, fishing, and global warming. Humans are the biggest threat to these penguins due to the overfishing of krill and other small invertebrates that they feed on. (Werderits and March 10, 1999)