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King penguin
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king penguin courtship An adult king penguin stands facing a fluffy brown king penguin chick, both with open beaks as if communicating, on a pebbled ground in South Georgia, Antarctica. A group of fluffy brown king penguin chicks stands together on rocky ground, with adult king penguins visible in the background in South Georgia, Antarctica. Two southern elephant seals rest on a rocky shore while groups of royal penguins and king penguins stand and walk behind them at Sandy Bay, Macquarie Island. Penguin head shapes
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king penguin courtship
king penguin courtship King penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) displaying courtship behavior.

King penguin

bird
Also known as: Aptenodytes patagonica, Aptenodytes patagonicus(Show More)
Written by
John P. Rafferty
John P. Rafferty writes about Earth processes and the environment. He serves currently as the editor of Earth and life sciences, covering climatology, geology, zoology, and other topics that relate to...
John P. Rafferty
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Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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King penguin, (Aptenodytes patagonicus), second largest member of the penguin order (Sphenisciformes), characterized by its dignified, upright posture, long bill, and vivid coloration. Although many ornithologists divide the species into two subspecies, Aptenodytes patagonicus patagonicus and A. patagonicus halli, some ornithologists claim that such a separation is unnecessary. King penguins are found on several Antarctic and subantarctic islands; breeding populations of A. patagonicus patagonicus occur on South Georgia, the Falkland Islands, and the South Sandwich...

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