Emperor Penguin vs Little Penguin
Aptenodytes forsteri compared with Eudyptula minor
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Emperor Penguin | Little Penguin |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aptenodytes forsteri | Eudyptula minor |
| Order | Sphenisciformes | Sphenisciformes |
| Family | Spheniscidae | Spheniscidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | 115.0 cm (45.3 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 76.0 cm (29.9 in) | 13.4 cm (5.3 in) |
| Weight | 30000.0 g (1058.22 oz) | 1321.6666666666667 g (46.62 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily Antarctic silverfish, krill, and squid. The deepest-diving bird, reaching depths over 500 meters and … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Emperor Penguin
Antarctic pack ice and surrounding Southern Ocean. The only penguin species that breeds during the Antarctic winter.
Song & Call Comparison
Emperor Penguin
Loud, resonant trumpeting calls used for individual recognition in dense colonies. Each bird's call is unique in frequency. Also gives softer contact 'braying' notes.
Little Penguin
Geographic Range & Migration
Emperor Penguin
Antarctic continent and surrounding sea ice. Breeding colonies are found along the entire Antarctic coastline.
Little Penguin
Conservation Status
Emperor Penguin
Little Penguin
How to Tell Them Apart
Emperor Penguin
Black head, chin, and dorsal side with white belly. Bright yellow-orange ear patches fade to pale yellow on the upper breast.
Long, slightly decurved bill — black with orange or pink mandible stripe
Little Penguin
About These Birds
Emperor Penguin
The emperor penguin is the tallest and heaviest of all penguin species. They breed in the harshest conditions on Earth, enduring Antarctic winter temperatures of -60 C and wind speeds of 200 km/h. Males incubate the single egg on their feet under a brood pouch for about 65 days while fasting.
Little Penguin
Little Penguin, 30–40 cm, is the world's smallest penguin, found in southern Australia and New Zealand. Blue-grey upperparts, white below. Returns to burrows only after dark to avoid aerial predators. Piscivore; dives to 70 m for small fish and cephalopods. Resident near breeding sites year-round.