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Which penguin species is the largest?

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Southern rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) standing on grass with a colony of penguins on rocky cliffs by the sea in the Falkland Islands. — penguin Most penguins are black and white, but the rockhopper penguin—like the southern rockhopper (*Eudyptes chrysocome*) in the foreground of this image—adds more colors. Rockhoppers have distinctive red eyes and a thin stripe of yellow feathers above each eye. They also have a crest of upright black feathers on top of their heads.

The largest penguin species is the emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri). These birds can reach approximately 1.3 meters (about 4.3 feet) in length and weigh between 25 to 45 kg (55 to 100 pounds). Emperor penguins are distinguished by their black and white coloration, with distinctive orange and yellow markings on their head, neck, and breast. They are found in Antarctica, gathering in colonies on ice shelves and landfast ice along the coastline.12

While the emperor penguin is the largest living species, fossil records indicate that extinct "mega penguins" were significantly larger. For instance, Palaeeudyptes klekowskii may have stood around 2 meters (6.6 feet) tall, and Kumimanu fordycei is estimated to have weighed between 148-160 kg (326-353 pounds).3