African Penguin vs Royal Penguin
Spheniscus demersus compared with Eudyptes schlegeli
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Penguin | Royal Penguin |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Spheniscus demersus | Eudyptes schlegeli |
| Order | Sphenisciformes | Sphenisciformes |
| Family | Spheniscidae | Spheniscidae |
| Conservation Status | Endangered | Least Concern |
| Length | 60.0 cm (23.6 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 42.0 cm (16.5 in) | 24.2 cm (9.5 in) |
| Weight | 3100.0 g (109.35 oz) | 4900.0 g (172.84 oz) |
| Diet | Small schooling fish, especially sardines and anchovies. Forages within 40 km of the colony, diving … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
African Penguin
Rocky coastlines and offshore islands of southern Africa. Nests in burrows, under boulders, or in surface scrapes.
Song & Call Comparison
African Penguin
A loud, donkey-like braying 'waaah-waaah' — hence its nickname 'jackass penguin'. Also gives softer grunts and contact calls at the colony. Highly vocal on breeding beaches.
Royal Penguin
Geographic Range & Migration
African Penguin
Coastal southwestern Africa from Namibia to Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The only penguin species breeding in Africa.
Royal Penguin
Conservation Status
African Penguin
Royal Penguin
How to Tell Them Apart
African Penguin
Black upperparts and white underparts with a distinctive black horseshoe-shaped band across the breast. Pink patches of bare skin above the eyes help with thermoregulation.
Sturdy, pointed, black bill with a grey band near the tip
Royal Penguin
About These Birds
African Penguin
The African penguin is the only penguin species native to the African continent, also called the jackass penguin for its donkey-like braying call. Their population has plummeted over 95% since pre-industrial times due to egg collection, oil spills, and competition with commercial fisheries for sardine and anchovy stocks.
Royal Penguin
Royal Penguin, 65–76 cm, breeds exclusively on Macquarie Island in the Southern Ocean. Like Macaroni Penguin but with a white (not black) face — the most obvious distinction. Crested penguin; krill and fish feeder. Vulnerable; breeds in one of the world's largest seabird colonies (~800,000 pairs).