Chinstrap Penguin

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Chinstrap Penguin
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Sphenisciformes Family: Spheniscidae Genus: Pygoscelis Species: P. antarctica
Binomial name
Pygoscelis antarctica (Forster, 1781)

The Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) is a species of penguin which is found in the South Sandwich Islands, Antarctica, the South Orkneys, South Shetland, South Georgia, Bouvet Island, Balleny and Peter I Island. Their name derives from the narrow black band under their heads which makes it appear as if they are wearing black helmets, making them one of the most easily identified types of penguin.

Other names for them are "Ringed Penguins", "Bearded Penguins", and "Stonecracker Penguins" due to their harsh call. They grow to 75 cm and there are approximately 7,500,000 breeding pairs. Their diet mostly consists of krill with a little fish as well.

Chinstrap penguin hunting for krill.

On land they build circular nests from stones, and lay around two eggs, which are incubated by both the male and the female for shifts of five to ten days. They can also breed on icebergs, though they prefer non-icy conditions. The chicks hatch after about 35 days, and have fluffy grey backs and white fronts. The chicks stay in the nest for 20–30 days before they go to join a creche. At around 50–60 days old, they moult, gaining their adult plumage and go to sea.

In 2004, two male chinstrap penguins named Roy and Silo in Central Park Zoo, New York City formed a pair-bond, and took turns trying to "hatch" a rock; this was substituted by a keeper for a fertile egg, and the pair subsequently hatched and raised the chick.

[edit] External links

• Penguin World: Chinstrap penguin
• Chinstrap Penguin images