Adelie penguin

Pygoscelis adeliae

Photo by Sten Shebs (Wikipedia)

Common name:
Adelie penguin (en); pinguim-de-Adélia (pt); manchot Adélie (fr); pingüino de Adelia (es); Adeliepinguin (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Sphenisciformes
Family Spheniscidae


Range:
This species is found on the coasts of Antarctica and in nearby islands such as the South Shetlands, the South Orkneys, Bouvet, Balleny and Peter Island.


Size:
These birds are 60-75 cm long and weigh 3,6-6 kg.


Habitat:
The Adelie penguin spends the winter in large coastal ice platforms, from which he dives in the sea in search of food. During the season they are found in beaches, rocky islands and other other areas free of ice.


Diet:
They catch their prey by pursuit diving, usually less than 20 m down. They mainly eat krill, but also fishes such as Myctophidae and the Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma antarcticum, squids and amphipods.


Breeding:
Adelie penguins breed in October-February. They are monogamous and mate for life. The nest is a pile of stones on the ground, where the female lays 1-2 eggs. The eggs are incubated by both parents for 24-43 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and remain in the nest for 4 weeks, after which they join a creche of other juvenile while still receiving food from the parents. The chicks become independent about 2 months after joining the creche. Each pair raises a single clutch per season.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 4-5,2 million individuals. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.