Macaroni penguin

The Macaroni mafia are taking over the joint.

They’re easy to spot in amongst their Humboldt friends at Penguin Coast as they have distinctive yellow crest feathers and a prominent orange beak.

If you love penguins, you can adopt a penguin today, or even feed a penguin on a penguin experience!

The macaroni penguin is a large species, found in the Sub-Antarctic and Antarctic Peninsula. Their name comes from the distinctive yellow feathered crest on the penguins’ heads that apparently resemble the feathers that featured on hats worn by men in the 18th century; referred to as macaroni’s (just like in the classic nursery rhyme ‘Yankee Doodle’).

Conservation

The Macaroni penguin is classed as vulnerable by the IUCN, but their population is in decline. Although there is a whopping estimated global population of 6.3 million breeding pairs, they have suffered a 47% reduction in just three generations.

Commercial fishing is a common threat to all penguin species, as it can really reduce the fish available to the penguins and their chicks. Marine pollution can affect fish populations and have a knock-on effect to penguins. Eggs and young chicks are also under threat from rodents, like rats and mice, that have been introduced by human activity into breeding areas.

How can you help?

Purchase more sustainable fish products. Look for the MSC logo on fish products at the supermarket freezer.

Dispose of waste properly, recycle if you can, to avoid plastic waste from entering the ocean.