King Penguin vs Gentoo Penguin
Aptenodytes patagonicus compared with Pygoscelis papua
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | King Penguin | Gentoo Penguin |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aptenodytes patagonicus | Pygoscelis papua |
| Order | Sphenisciformes | Sphenisciformes |
| Family | Spheniscidae | Spheniscidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 95.0 cm (37.4 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 64.0 cm (25.2 in) | 25.2 cm (9.9 in) |
| Weight | 14000.0 g (493.84 oz) | 6225.0 g (219.58 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily lanternfish and squid caught during deep dives. Routinely dives to 100-300 meters, sometimes exceeding … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
King Penguin
Breeds on sub-Antarctic islands with flat or gently sloping beaches. Forages in the Southern Ocean.
Song & Call Comparison
King Penguin
Uses individually unique complex calls for mate and chick recognition in noisy colonies. Produces a loud, musical trumpeting. Chick whistles are distinctive per family unit.
Gentoo Penguin
Geographic Range & Migration
King Penguin
Sub-Antarctic islands including South Georgia, Crozet, Kerguelen, Macquarie, and Falkland Islands.
Gentoo Penguin
Conservation Status
King Penguin
Gentoo Penguin
How to Tell Them Apart
King Penguin
Dark blue-grey back with white belly. Vivid orange-gold auricular patches on the sides of the head and upper breast. Silvery-grey upperparts.
Long, slender, slightly decurved bill with orange mandible plates
Gentoo Penguin
About These Birds
King Penguin
The king penguin is the second-largest penguin species, known for its striking orange-gold head markings. Unlike most penguins, king penguins do not build nests — they incubate their single egg on their feet. Their 14-16 month breeding cycle is the longest of any penguin species.
Gentoo Penguin
Gentoo Penguin, 75–90 cm, is the fastest swimming penguin, reaching 36 km/h. Distinctive white eye-stripe and orange-red bill; tail bobs from side to side while walking. Breeds from Falklands to Antarctic Peninsula. Piscivore and krill feeder; dives to 200 m. Population expanding southward with warming.