With their distinctive golden-yellow crests, lively personalities and enormous breeding colonies, macaroni penguins are among the most fascinating inhabitants of the Southern Ocean. During our expedition to Antarctica, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, you have the chance to encounter these charismatic birds up close. Here are ten fascinating facts about one of the world's most abundant penguin species.
The world's most numerous penguin
The macaroni penguin is believed to be the most abundant penguin species on Earth, with an estimated population of more than 18 million breeding pairs.
Their name has nothing to do with pasta
The name "macaroni" comes from an 18th-century English slang term for fashionable young men who wore extravagant hats and wigs. The penguin's striking yellow crest reminded people of these flamboyant "macaronis."
Instantly recognisable
Their long, bright yellow-orange feathers sweep back from above each eye, giving them one of the most distinctive appearances of all penguins.
Incredible divers
Macaroni penguins can dive to depths of more than 100 metres (330 ft) in search of krill, squid and small fish. Most dives last around two minutes.
Built for rough seas
They spend much of their lives at sea and are excellent swimmers, using their powerful flippers to "fly" through the water at speeds of up to 15 km/h (9 mph).
Masters of steep climbs
Despite their short legs, macaroni penguins are surprisingly agile. They hop from rock to rock and can climb steep, rugged cliffs to reach their nesting colonies.
They live in enormous colonies
Some breeding colonies contain hundreds of thousands of penguins, making them among the largest seabird colonies in the world. The noise—and smell—can be unforgettable!
Both parents share the work
After the female lays her eggs, both parents take turns incubating them and later feeding the chick until it is old enough to fend for itself.
They moult all at once
Once a year, macaroni penguins replace all their feathers in a process called a catastrophic moult. During this time, they cannot swim or feed and must fast on land for several weeks.
A highlight of South Georgia
One of the best places in the world to observe macaroni penguins is South Georgia, where vast colonies cover the hillsides. Seeing thousands of these charismatic birds against a backdrop of glaciers and mountains is one of the great wildlife experiences of the Southern Ocean.