Emperor Penguin vs King Penguin
Aptenodytes forsteri comparé à Aptenodytes patagonicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Emperor Penguin | King Penguin |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Aptenodytes forsteri | Aptenodytes patagonicus |
| Ordre | Sphenisciformes | Sphenisciformes |
| Famille | Spheniscidae | Spheniscidae |
| Statut de conservation | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Longueur | 115,0 cm (45.3 in) | 95,0 cm (37.4 in) |
| Envergure | 76,0 cm (29.9 in) | 64,0 cm (25.2 in) |
| Poids | 30000,0 g (1058.22 oz) | 14000,0 g (493.84 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Primarily Antarctic silverfish, krill, and squid. The deepest-diving bird, reaching depths over 500 meters and … | Primarily lanternfish and squid caught during deep dives. Routinely dives to 100-300 meters, sometimes exceeding … |
| Taille de la couvée | 1 | 1 |
| 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.
King Penguin
Breeds on sub-Antarctic islands with flat or gently sloping beaches. Forages in the Southern Ocean.
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.
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.
Geographic Range & Migration
Emperor Penguin
Antarctic continent and surrounding sea ice. Breeding colonies are found along the entire Antarctic coastline.
King Penguin
Sub-Antarctic islands including South Georgia, Crozet, Kerguelen, Macquarie, and Falkland Islands.
Statut de conservation
Emperor Penguin
King 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
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
Key Differences
- • Weight: Emperor Penguin (30000g) vs King Penguin (14000g)
- • Length: Emperor Penguin (115 cm) vs King Penguin (95 cm)
- • Wingspan: Emperor Penguin (76 cm) vs King Penguin (64 cm)
- • Conservation: Emperor Penguin (Near Threatened) vs King Penguin (Least Concern)
- • Habitat: Emperor Penguin prefers Antarctic pack ice and surrounding Southern Ocean. The only; King Penguin prefers Breeds on sub-Antarctic islands with flat or gently sloping
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.
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.