Download This Sample
This sample is exclusively for KidsKonnect members!
To download this worksheet, click the button below to signup for free (it only takes a minute) and you'll be brought right back to this page to start the download!
Sign Me Up
Table of Contents
Second in size to the emperor penguin, the king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) is known for its grand, upright posture, long bill, and vibrant coloration. King penguins are increasing in population and, because of their large number, are listed as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN.
See the fact file below for more information on the king penguin or alternatively, you can download our 20-page King Penguin worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
PHYSICAL FEATURES
- Fully grown king penguins reach 70 to 100 cm (28 to 39 in) in length and weigh 9.3 to 18 kg (21 to 41 lbs), and the males are quite a lot larger than the females. They are a quarter shorter and weigh ⅓ less than emperor penguins.
- At first sight, king penguins resemble emperor penguins, with a wide cheek patch contrasting with their dark and yellow-orange plumage at the top of the chest. The cheek patch of a king penguin appears to be a full vibrant orange, whereas that of the emperor penguin seems to be yellow and white, and the upper chest is more orange than yellow in the king species.
- Both emperor and king penguins have intensely hued markings along their lower jaw, but these appear pink in emperor penguins and orange in king penguins.
- Juveniles have black feathers with gray tips, yellow feathers on the ear patches, and grayish white feathers on the lower neck.
- Chicks have thick dark brown feathers until they molt at 10-12 months.
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT
- King penguins have two subspecies: A. p. patagonicus of the South Atlantic, and A. p. halli of the South Indian Ocean (on the Kerguelen Islands, Crozet Island, Prince Edward Islands, Heard Island, McDonald Islands, and Macquarie Island).
- They mate on subantarctic islands, in the northern regions of Antarctica, including Tierra del Fuego, the Falkland Islands, and other temperate islands.
- King penguins are estimated to have 2.23 million breeding pairs; the largest populations are on the Crozet Islands (445,000 pairs), Prince Edward Islands (228,000 pairs), Kerguelen Islands (240,000 pairs), and in the South Georgia archipelago (100,000 pairs).
- They have suffered an intense decrease in population of nearly 90% on Pig Island of the Crozet Archipelago. Findings show that their numbers have dropped to 60,000 pairs, which may have been caused by climate change.
- In August 1936, the Nature Protection Society freed several king penguins in Finnmark and Lofoten in northern Norway.
BEHAVIOR
- King penguins make numerous dives to a depth of 100 to 300 meters.
- They do not resurface right away, and instead spend 5 to 10 minutes underwater, searching the seabed for prey.
- They can swim at a cruising speed between 5 to 10 km per hour. On land, king penguins love to walk with a wobbling gait and slide on ice on their bellies (toboggan), unlike other species who prefer to hop around.
- They also “porpoise”, a swimming technique used to stay in water for a long time while maintaining their speed.
DIET AND PREDATORS
- King penguins feed on different species of small fish, squid, and krill.
- Fish make up most of their diet, except in the winter months of July and August.
- Lanternfish are the main fish preyed on, especially the species Electrona carlsbergi, Krefftichthys anderssoni, Prtomyctophum tenisoni, Slender escolar (Paradiplospinus gracilis), and Champsocephalus gunneri.
- Cephalopods eaten are those of the genus Moroteuthis, hooked squid (Kondakovia longimana), sevenstar flying squid (Martialia hyadesii), young Gonatus antarcticus, and Onychoteuthis species.
- They are preyed upon by other seabirds and aquatic mammals. Giant petrels and Skua species steal their eggs and most of their chicks. They may even kill adult king penguins, especially those who seem vulnerable.
- Snowy sheathbill (Chionis alba) and kelp gull (Larus dominicanus) prey on dead chicks and unattended eggs.
- Orcas and pre-adult male Antarctic fur seals on Marion Island have also been seen chasing, killing, and eating king penguins.
COURTSHIP AND BREEDING
- The average age when a king penguin first breeds is between 5 to 6 years old.
- They are serially monogamous; they stay faithful to one mate each year.
- King penguins have massively prolonged breeding cycles, usually lasting around 14 to 16 months from laying eggs to offspring growing feathers.
- The reproductive cycle starts in September to November, as birds go back to colonies for a prenuptial moult. They go back to the sea for around three weeks before returning to the shore in November or December.
- Females lay a single pyriform (pear-shaped) white egg, which is initially soft, but hardens and turns to a pale greenish color. They are incubated for 55 days, where parents take turns watching their eggs; their shifts last for 6 to 18 days each.
- Hatching takes up to 2 to 3 days to complete, and chicks are born with a thin covering and rely heavily on their parents for food and warmth.
- It takes 14 to 16 months before a king penguin chick goes back to the sea.
King Penguin Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the king penguin across 20 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use King Penguin worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) which is known for its grand, upright posture, long bill, and vibrant coloration. King penguins are increasing in population and, because of their large number, are listed as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- King Penguin Facts
- Meet the King
- More King Penguin Facts
- Anatomy of a King Penguin
- Life Story of a King Penguin
- Ask King Penguin
- Two Alike Penguins
- Two Subspecies
- King Penguin Recap
- A Parent’s Love
- King Penguin Origami
Link/cite this page
If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.
Link will appear as King Penguin Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, March 11, 2020
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.