Emperor Penguin vs Galapagos Penguin
Aptenodytes forsteri compared with Spheniscus mendiculus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Emperor Penguin | Galapagos Penguin |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aptenodytes forsteri | Spheniscus mendiculus |
| Order | Sphenisciformes | Sphenisciformes |
| Family | Spheniscidae | Spheniscidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Endangered |
| Length | 115.0 cm (45.3 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 76.0 cm (29.9 in) | 16.6 cm (6.5 in) |
| Weight | 30000.0 g (1058.22 oz) | 2040.0 g (71.96 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.
Galapagos Penguin
Geographic Range & Migration
Emperor Penguin
Antarctic continent and surrounding sea ice. Breeding colonies are found along the entire Antarctic coastline.
Galapagos Penguin
Conservation Status
Emperor Penguin
Galapagos 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
Galapagos 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.
Galapagos Penguin
Galápagos Penguin, 49–53 cm, is the only penguin that breeds north of the equator. Restricted to the Galápagos Islands and dependent on Humboldt Current upwelling. Banded black-and-white with a horseshoe breast band. Piscivore; dives for sardines and mullet. Endangered; highly vulnerable to El Niño events.