Here you will find a general description of the breeding behaviour of Aptenodytes
Penguins.
Both King and Emperor penguins lay a single egg. The eggs are incubated
on the feet, covered by a flap of abdominal skin to keep them warm. After
hatching the chicks remain on the parents feet until they are too big to
be warmed by their parents. During this period one parent keeps the chick
warm while the other is at sea gathering food. As the chicks become larger
their appetite grows and both parents have to go to sea to continue bringing
back sufficient food to feed the rapidly growing chick. While the parents
are away the chicks in a colony gather together to form large creches.
These creches serve both to keep the chicks warm and to protect against
predators such as skuas.
When the parents return with a full crop they find their own chick by
listening to its call. In crowded colonies (especially for King penguins)
there may be many thousand chicks in a creche. Nevertheless the parents
always find their own chick to feed.
Once they are fully grown Emperor chicks quickly moult into their juvenile
plumage and go to sea. King chicks may retain their chick down for much
longer, depending on the time of year they were hatched. They wait until
the food supply is good before moulting and leaving.
More details specific to Emperor and King
penguins can be found on the pages with detailed species notes.
Guide to Pete & Barb's Penguin Pages
Front Page and Introduction
· Descriptions of the Penguins
· Detailed Species Notes ·
Breeding Behaviour · Common
questions · Penguin Goodies ·
Penguin Bibliography · Good
Penguin Guide · Photo Index ·
Links to other penguin sites ·
'Penguin-balls' · Endangered
Penguins ·
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