The Macaroni Penguin is the Eudyptes chrysolophus penguin. It is the largest of the 6 crested penguins. The Macaroni, like all penguins is flightless. They don’t fly but they sure are good swimmers, all penguins are. There are 12 million pairs of them; they inhabit the Southern Antarctica with big breeding population in South Georgia Islands , and Falkland Islands .
It is different from other crested penguins; they are mostly confused with the Royal Penguin. But Macaronis mostly have black faces and the Royal have white.
Macaronis mostly eat crustaceans ( mostly krill ), fish, and squid. Like most penguins, when the baby Macaroni is born, the mother Macaroni goes out to sea and catch fish. The mother keeps the fish in her mouth and carries it to the baby; this can take many hours, or weeks.
Macaroni’s breed is usually in summer. During the breeding season, 2 eggs are laid, the 1st one is smaller and hardly ever hatches. When the 2nd comes out, the Macaronis kick the 1st out of their nest. The egg hatches in 4 or 5 weeks.
Macaronis have a few natural predators, they are: Leopard Seal, Sea Lions and Orcas eat adults at sea. While Gulls, Skuas, Petrel and Shore Birds eat the eggs.
Did you know?
l The Macaroni penguin was named by early English explorers for its yellow crest feathers which resembled those worn in the hats of young18th.
l Dives rarely exceed two minutes in duration.
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