The King Penguin, largest of the Falkland penguins, is at the northern edge of its global range in the Falkland Islands (see Status). Its population (815 adults – Census Report 2005-06 (5.8MbPDF)) is almost entirely concentrated at one site, Volunteer Point Important Bird Area (616kb PDF), East Falkland. They do not migrate but remain near their coastal breeding colonies in the Islands all year round.

Standing about 3 feet (94cms) tall, this is a very handsome bird. It has bright orange ear patches leading to an orange-yellow fore neck, a silver white breast with blue-grey back, and black feet.

Juveniles are covered in brown fluffy plumage and often appear larger than their parents.

They make no nest, but hold a single egg on their feet for the entire incubation period of about 55 days. It is important during this period that they are not unduly disturbed because if they drop their egg, it is abandoned.

As the complete breeding cycle takes about 14 months, a pair will generally raise two chicks every three years. Colonies consist of birds of varying ages.

King penguins feed mainly on myctophid fish, diving to depths of up to 340m. It is the only penguin in the region increasing in numbers, partly fuelled by immigration from the vast colonies on South Georgia.

Studies and Reports

The Diving Behaviour of Brooding King Penguins Apentodytes pataconicus from the Falkland Islands: Variations in dive profiles and synchronous underwater swimming provide new insights into their foraging strategies.
Klemens Putz & Yves Cherel (2005). Marine Biology 147: 281-290.
www.springer.com/uk/home - then go to life sciences, journals, aquatic sciences, marine biology – Vol 147, Number 2, June 05.

Breeding Patterns of King Penguins from the Falkland Islands. First results.
H Otley, A Clausen, D Christie, N Huin & K Putz. 2007. The Emu 107: 156-164.
www.publish.csiro.au (Journals – Emu – oneline archives – Number 2, 2007).

Spatial and temporal variability in the foraging areas of breeding King Penguins.
K Putz. 2002. The Condor 104: 528-538.
www.springerlink.com/uk - then go to life sciences, journals, aquatic sciences, marine biology – Vol 147, Number 2, June 05.

Summer diet of king penguins Aptenodytes patagonicus at the Falkland Islands, southern Atlantic Ocean.during austral winter 1996.
Y Cherel, K Putz & K Hobson. 2002. Polar Biology 25: 898-906.
Available to subscribers of Polar Biology (search Journals for Polar Biology) - www.springer.com/uk/home

Cephalopod prey of king penguins Aptenodytes patagonicus breeding at Volunteer Beach, Falkland Islands, during austral winter 1996.
U Piatkowski, K Putz & H Heinemann. 2001. Fisheries Research 52: 79-90.
www.sciencedirect.com then search keywords ‘King Penguin’.