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Macaroni Penguin
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Sphenisciformes
Family:	Spheniscidae
Genus:	Eudyptes
Species:	E. chrysolophus
Binomial name
Eudyptes chrysolophus (Brandt, 1837)

The Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) is a species of penguin of the genus Eudyptes closely related to the Royal Penguin. The Macaroni Penguin is the most abundant among all the world's penguins in terms of numbers, with about 12 million pairs in existence. Adult Macaroni Penguins average about 11 pounds in weight and average 25 inches in height. They are usually distinguished by yellow and black plumes on the top of their heads.

Taxonomy

The Macaroni Penguin was described in 1837 by German naturalist Johann Friedrich von Brandt. Its specific name is derived from the Ancient Greek words chryso- "golden", and lophos "crest" or "tuft of hair".

The common name was given to the species by English explorers, probably due to the bird's conspicuous yellow crest. Maccaronism was a term for a particular style in 18th century England marked by flamboyant or excessive ornamentation. A person who adopted this fashion was labeled a maccaroni or macaroni, as in the song Yankee Doodle.

Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA evidence suggests the Macaroni Penguin split from its closest relative, the Royal Penguin, around 1.5 million years ago. The Macaroni Penguin and Royal Penguin are similar in looks, although the Macaroni penguins have black faces, while Royal Penguins tend to have white faces.

Description

Averaging about 11 pounds in weight and average 25 inches in height, the Macaroni Penguin has a white belly and breast, and sharply delineated black upperparts. Like other members of the genus Eudyptes, it has yellow and black plumes on the top of its head and red eyes.

Distribution and habitat

Macaroni Penguins are distributed from the sub-Antarctic to the Antarctic Peninsula. They are found on the more southern of the Antarctic islands, unlike most crested penguins. Breeding colonies are found on the Antarctic Peninsula, islands around Cape Horn, Falklands, South Georgia, South Sandwich, South Orkney, South Shetland, Bouvetøya, Prince Edward, Marion, Crozet, Kerguelen, Heard Island and Macquarie Island.

Behaviour

Diet

The diet of a macaroni penguin consists of mainly squid, fish, krill, and other crustaceans. On average, a macaroni penguin will dive from 50 to 100 feet to catch prey.

Reproduction

Fertile Macaroni Penguins lay two eggs - the first egg laid is ignored by the penguin and usually eaten by ever-present skuas, while the second egg hatches around 34 days after it is laid. Like all penguins, they swim efficiently but cannot fly.