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Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) wildlife photograph

Field guide · common

Adélie Penguin

The classic tuxedo penguin of Antarctica — white eye-ring, rocky nests, and fearless curiosity.

Least Concern

Pygoscelis adeliae

Overview

Adélie penguins are the archetypal Antarctic penguin: black-and-white, with a neat white ring around each eye. They nest in vast rocky colonies, toboggan on their bellies, and porpoise through frigid seas after krill.

Together with emperor penguins, they give Antarctica a real Catch'Um set instead of a single legendary bird.

Habitat

  • Antarctic coast
  • Pack ice
  • Rocky colonies

Ice-free rocky coasts of Antarctica and nearby islands for nesting; forage in Southern Ocean pack-ice waters rich in krill.

Countries found

Field notes

Field scale for the Adélie Penguin: height 70 cm; weight 3-6 kg. Typical lifespan: Around 10-20 years in the wild.

When you are scanning habitat, prioritise antarctic coast, pack ice, and rocky colonies. Those settings are where a clean look and a usable photo are most likely.

Quick ID anchor: Black head and back, white belly, and a distinctive white ring around each eye. Confirm with behaviour and habitat before you log the discovery.

Where to see one

  • Antarctica

    In Antarctica, start at Ross Sea (East Antarctica). The largest marine protected area on Earth, with emperor penguins, Adélie penguins, and orcas in pristine polar waters.

    More context on this destination lives on the Antarctica expedition page.

    Spotting guide for Adélie Penguin in Antarctica

Diet

Primarily Antarctic krill, plus fish and squid in coastal waters.

Dive repeatedly from ice edges and open water.

Behaviour

Nest in dense pebble colonies; both parents share incubation and chick feeding.

Highly social; defend nest stones vigorously.

How to identify

Black head and back, white belly, and a distinctive white ring around each eye.

Brush-tail penguin build; no yellow plumes.

Interesting facts

  1. 01

    Named after Adélie Land, itself named for an explorer's wife.

  2. 02

    White eye-rings distinguish them from similar penguins.

  3. 03

    Build nests from pebbles — and steal pebbles from neighbours.

  4. 04

    Feed largely on Antarctic krill.

  5. 05

    Walk, toboggan, and porpoise with classic penguin energy.

  6. 06

    Colonies can number hundreds of thousands of pairs.

Conservation status

LC: Least Concern

Adélie penguins are Least Concern overall, but some colonies decline where sea-ice and krill patterns shift with climate change. Monitoring Antarctic fisheries and ice habitat remains important.

Sources: IUCN Red List

Keep exploring

Where it lives

Related discoveries

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Catch the Adélie Penguin

Spot one in the wild, then scan it in Catch'Um to log your common discovery.