Bird Album
Chinstrap Penguin
Pygoscelis antarcticus (Forster, JR, 1781)
4.1 kgWeight
The chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus) is a penguin species that inhabits various islands and shores in the Southern Pacific and the Antarctic Oceans.
Busiest months: December–January · Most records: Antarctica, South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands, Argentina
Where and when it's recorded
Chinstrap Penguin has been recorded at 31 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 5 countries and regions.
Records by month Southern Hemisphere
Where it's recorded most
- Half Moon IslandAntarctica550 records
- Cooper BaySouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands262 records
- Deception Island – Whaler's BayAntarctica243 records
More places
- Elephant Island – Point WildAntarctica194 records
- Errera Channel – Cuverville IslandAntarctica180 records
- Cierva CoveAntarctica133 records
- Mikkelsen Harbor – D'Hainaut IslandAntarctica89 records
- Brown BluffAntarctica71 records
- Gold HarbourSouth Georgia & South Sandwich Islands64 records
- Petermann IslandAntarctica56 records
Countries and regions with the most records
eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.
About
The chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus) is a penguin species that inhabits various islands and shores in the Southern Pacific and the Antarctic Oceans. Its name stems from the narrow black band under its head, which makes it appear to wear a black helmet. Other common names include ringed penguin, bearded penguin, and stonecracker penguin.
Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia
Questions
How big is the Chinstrap Penguin?
The Chinstrap Penguin weighs around 4.1 kg.
Where does the Chinstrap Penguin live?
Its breeding range: Southern Ocean, Antarctica: Antarctic Peninsula and satellites; Balleny Island (eastern Antarctica). It is most often recorded in Antarctica, South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands and Argentina.
When is the best time to see the Chinstrap Penguin?
At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in January and December (Southern Hemisphere).
Is the Chinstrap Penguin endangered?
The IUCN Red List classifies the Chinstrap Penguin as Least Concern.
What does the Chinstrap Penguin eat?
Main food: Fish, shrimp & shellfish.
What family is the Chinstrap Penguin in?
It belongs to the family Penguins (Spheniscidae), order Sphenisciformes.
At a glance
- Weight
- 4.1 kg
- Habitat
- Ocean
- Diet
- Fish, shrimp & shellfish
- Lifestyle
- On the water surface
- Migration
- Partial migrant
- Conservation
- Least Concern
More measurements
- Wing
- 100 mm
- Tail
- 138 mm
- Bill
- 62 mm
- Tarsus
- 27 mm
Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.
Range
Southern Ocean, Antarctica: Antarctic Peninsula and satellites; Balleny Island (eastern Antarctica)
Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2
Classification
- Order
- Sphenisciformes
- Family
- Penguins Spheniscidae
- Genus
- Pygoscelis
Other birds in the genus Pygoscelis
Adelie PenguinPygoscelis adeliae
Gentoo PenguinPygoscelis papua
King PenguinAptenodytes patagonicus
Emperor PenguinAptenodytes forsteri
Little PenguinEudyptula minor
Galapagos PenguinSpheniscus mendiculus
Humboldt PenguinSpheniscus humboldti
Magellanic PenguinSpheniscus magellanicus
African PenguinSpheniscus demersus
Yellow-eyed PenguinMegadyptes antipodes
Download illustration
Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Paddy Kemner. ↗
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