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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Spheniscidae
  4. ›
  5. Eudyptes
  6. ›
  7. Macaroni Penguin
Macaroni Penguin
Photo · (c) Ellen Rykers, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Macaroni Penguin

Eudyptes chrysolophus(Brandt, JF, 1837)

Updated 21 March 2026

Conservation status: VulnerableOrigin: Native
Order
SPHENISCIFORMES
Family
Spheniscidae
Genus
Eudyptes

At a glance

The Macaroni Penguin is a very large bird, about 71 cm long, listed as Vulnerable and native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
71 cm
Conservation status
Vulnerable
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Rare
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Macaroni Penguin look like?

The Macaroni Penguin is a very large bird, about 71 cm long.

The macaroni penguin is a species of penguin found from the Subantarctic to the Antarctic Peninsula. One of eight species of crested penguin, it is very closely related to the royal penguin, and some authorities consider the two to be a single species. It bears a distinctive yellow crest on its forehead. Its face and upperparts are black and sharply delineated from the white underparts. Adults weigh on average 5.5 kg (12 lb) and are 70 cm (28 in) in length. The male and female are similar in appearance; the male is slightly larger and stronger with a larger bill. Like all penguins, it is flightless, with a streamlined body and wings stiffened and flattened into flippers for a marine lifestyle.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
71 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Macaroni Penguin?

The Macaroni 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

4 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Macaroni Penguin live in Australia?

The Macaroni Penguin is native to Australia, recorded across 7 of Australia’s bioregions, with a core range spanning subantarctic islands of west South Atlantic to east South Indian Ocean.

BreedingSubantarctic islands of west South Atlantic to east South Indian Ocean: Antarctic Pen. and Falkland Is. to Kerguelen and Heard is.

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Vagrant
  • Non-breeding
  • Passage

4 regions recorded