Macaroni penguin is a penguin with a striking golden-yellow crest above each eye. It lives in the Southern Ocean, especially on the islands around Antarctica. Like other penguins, it does not fly. Instead, it swims by beating its flippers. The macaroni penguin is the most abundant penguin in the world.
The macaroni penguin stands about 2 1/3 feet (70 centimeters) tall. It weighs about 9 to 11 pounds (4 to 5 kilograms). The adult is mostly blue-black, with a white belly. The head and throat are black. The bill is red-brown, and the eyes are garnet-red. The two crests grow from the middle of the forehead.
The macaroni penguin mainly feeds on shrimplike krill and similar animals. It sometimes eats fish and squid. It is fed upon by killer whales and leopard seals.
The macaroni penguin forms large breeding colonies in the summer. A single colony can include up to 2.5 million birds. Many colonies occupy steep, rocky terrain, though others are on level ground. Colonies can be up to 1,600 feet (500 meters) above sea level.
The macaroni penguin’s nest is a shallow scrape in the mud or gravel. It is lined with a few small stones. Macaroni penguins often mate with the same partner each year. The female usually lays two eggs, but the first egg is small and rarely hatches.
Macaroni penguins remain numerous, but their numbers have fallen significantly. The penguins are threatened by competition with fishing boats that harvest krill. Other threats include environmental pollution and climate change.
