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Animal Quick Facts
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Size
Up to 2 feet tall; up to 10 pounds.
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Color
Black and white, with a yellow head crest.
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Lifespan
26.3 years (median life expectancy of males and females combined)
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Range
Sub-Antarctic to the Antarctic Peninsula.
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Habitat
Breeds on rocky slopes or bare, level ground; spends rest of time at sea.
Eudyptes chrysolophus
Location in the Zoo: Aquarium
The macaroni penguin’s name has more to do with fashion than food. When English sailors discovered the bird in the 18th century, a man who wore flashy feathers in his hat was called a “Macaroni.” It was the perfect name for a dapper bird with a striking yellow crest.
The macaroni menu is made up of crustaceans, krill, small fish, and cephalopods. Their breeding colonies are among the largest and densest in the penguin world – up to 100,00 individuals. After spending the summer breeding, penguins head to sea for the rest of the year. Macaronis molt once a year, replacing all their old feathers while spending 3-4 weeks ashore. They do not feed during this time as they cannot enter the water to feed while featherless.
Although it is the world’s most abundant penguin, there have been widespread population declines and the macaroni’s conservation status is classified as vulnerable.