King Penguin, South Georgia. Length: 94cm, Stands 76cm Has very distinct bright golden-orange auricular patches on sides of head which extend down as narrow band of colours across throat to form a deep orange and golden-yellow patch on silver-white upper breast. Nape and shoulders a clear steel-blue, blending to black-grey on back. Leading edges of auricular patches and head a deeper black. Immature birds similar, but not clear, deep colour of adults. Young over ten days old are covered with dense, deep brown down with purplish tints. Fully grown young often appear much larger than attending adults. Unique breeding cycle: incubation of one egg lasts for 54-55 days and chick rearing 11-12 months. As the complete breeding cycle takes about 14 Months (South Georgia), a pair will generally only breed twice in three years. Diet includes fish and squid, caught by deep dives during daylight hours. |