Sealife guideThe chinstrap penguinPygoscelis antarcticus

Last updated on 08/26/2024 at 05:46 PM

The chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus)

Taxonomy

Common name: Chinstrap penguin
French name: Manchot à jugulaire, manchot barbu
Scientific name: Pygoscelis antarcticus (Forster, 1781)
Family name: Spheniscidae
Order name: Sphenisciformes
Class name: The sea birds

Description

The chinstrap penguin is easily recognized by a black line that runs across its cheeks. Both male and female chinstrap penguins have the same appearance: black on top of the head and back with a white belly.

The chinstrap penguin is characterized by a black line that runs across its cheeks !

The chinstrap penguin stands about 30 inches tall and weighs around 6.5 to 9 pounds.

Chinstrap penguins spend almost the entire year in the water, except in November when they return to the nesting site to lay eggs.

Geographic range

During the breeding season, chinstrap penguins migrate to the rocky coasts near Australia.

Habitat

Chinstrap penguins nest on rocky shores.

Diet

They feed on squid, crustaceans, small fish, and krill.

Reproduction

Chinstrap penguins build their nests out of stones, where they lay their eggs. Around mid-February, young penguins leave their parents and head out to sea.

Did you know ?

If other penguins venture too close to their nest, the chinstrap penguin throws stones, often taken from neighboring nests, to drive them away.

The chinstrap penguin is listed as many other marine species within The IUCN Red List of threatened species. The chinstrap penguin appears in the IUCN Red List since 2020 within the category Least Concern !

Within the same genus