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  1. Species
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  3. Spheniscidae
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  5. Aptenodytes
  6. ›
  7. King Penguin
King Penguin
Photo · no rights reserved

BirdUp · Species

King Penguin

Aptenodytes patagonicusMiller, JF, 1778

Updated 21 March 2026

Conservation status: Least ConcernOrigin: Native
Order
SPHENISCIFORMES
Family
Spheniscidae
Genus
Aptenodytes

At a glance

The King Penguin is a very large bird, about 85–95 cm long, listed as Least Concern and native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
85–95 cm
Conservation status
Least Concern
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a King Penguin look like?

The King Penguin is a very large bird, about 85–95 cm long.

The king penguin is the second largest species of penguin, smaller than but somewhat similar in appearance to the emperor penguin.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
85–95 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

Field tips

behaviour

  • In the water, look for 'porpoising' behavior where the bird repeatedly leaps clear of the surface to breathe while swimming at high speed.
  • On land, observe the characteristic movement pattern alternating between an upright wobbling walk and 'tobogganing' on the belly.

plumage

  • Look for the vivid, solid orange teardrop-shaped patches on the sides of the head that connect to a matching orange-yellow wash on the upper chest.
  • The back and upper wing surfaces are a distinctive grizzled, silvery-grey rather than solid black.

size_and_shape

  • Note the long, slender bill featuring a conspicuous, colorful orange or pinkish plate along the side of the lower mandible.

voice

  • Listen for a loud, trumpet-like braying call, often delivered while the bird stands tall with its bill pointed directly at the sky.

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a King Penguin?

The King Penguin is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

5 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the King Penguin live in Australia?

The King Penguin is native to Australia, recorded across 6 of Australia’s bioregions, with a core range spanning subantarctic is. beaches.

BreedingSubantarctic is. beaches: Tierra del Fuego, Falkland Is., South Georgia, South Sandwich Is. (south-west South Atlantic), Prince Edward, Crozet, Kerguelen and Heard is. (south-west and south-east South Indian), Macquarie I. (far south-east of Australia, south-west South Pacific)

Non-breedingMostly around Antarctic Convergence; to subantarctic New Zealand is., south tip of South America and Antarctic Pen.

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Vagrant
  • Non-breeding

5 regions recorded