Home > About Antarctica  >  Fact files  >  Animals  >  Penguins  > 

Unusual penguins

The images in this section are of unusual penguins. Images show either hybrid penguins (offspring of cross species mating), or penguins with unusual plumage. Both hybrid penguins and penguins with non-standard plumage are relatively rare.

In the case of abnormally coloured penguins, it is not known whether their colour patterns are genetic (ie if these penguins were to breed, would their offspring be similarly coloured?). It is also not clear whether abnormal colouring affects the penguins breeding success. Depending on their colouring, some of these penguins may not survive for long, as they may be relatively conspicuous to their predators.

Mottled King Penguin, Gold Harbour, South Georgia December 1998
Mottled King Penguin, Gold Harbour, South Georgia
Photo: Rod Eime

 King penguins

Albino Adelie penguin fledgling near Mawson
Albino Adelie penguin fledgling near Mawson
Photo: Alistair Urie

 Adélie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins

Royal penguin with isabelline coloration
Royal penguin with isabelline colouration
Photo: Drew Lee

Royal, rockhopper, macaroni, erect-crested and fjordland penguins

This page was last modified on June 30, 2011.