King penguin
Aptenodytes patagonicus
We have a bachelor group of king penguins here at Edinburgh Zoo. They are Kongo, Bow, Alfie and Major General Sir Nils Olav, the world's only knighted penguin!
King penguins were one of the very first species at the zoo. In 1919 we welcomed our first chick, making us the first zoo in the world to breed the species successfully. Our logo features a king penguin because of this long history.
These penguins are the second largest in the world, with only the emperor penguin being bigger. While the two species look very similar, king penguins have a straighter beak and bright orange markings.
They live on subantarctic islands, north of the Antarctic continent, in areas like South Georgia, Crozet Islands and the Falkland Islands. They prefer snow-free shores and valleys near the sea for their large colonies.
Unlike most birds, they do not make nests. Instead, they rest eggs on their feet. This keeps it off the frozen ground. Both parents take it in turns holding the egg, with some shifts lasting two weeks or more.
Population
Increasing
IUCN August 2018
Diet
Piscivore
Habitat
Oceans
Fact file
King penguins are the second largest penguin species - emperor penguins are the largest
They can dive to amazing depths to hunt their prey – sometimes up to 300 metres!
King penguins lay only one egg. Both the male and female will share incubation duties and take care of the chick when it hatches
Latest king penguin news
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17 Nov 2025
One minute read
01 Oct 2025
Two minute read
05 Mar 2025
Two minute read
How we're helping
Like all the animals in our care our king penguins are amazing ambassadors for their relatives in the wild and help hundreds of thousands of people connect with nature every year. They encourage visitors to learn about the threats facing wildlife and the action they can take to help create a world where nature is protected, valued and loved.
As a wildlife conservation charity, we care for the animals here at the zoo and work to protect species at risk around the world. From providing expertise in genetics and veterinary health, to protecting wild places with local conservation partners, and even restoring threatened species to the wild, we are active where we are needed most.
Find out more about RZSS conservation