Penguin Size Comparison – How Big Are Penguins?

There are 18 extant species of penguin across the world today. Across the species there are quite a number of differences. From the tiny ‘Little Penguin’ to the ‘Emperor Penguin’ at nearly three times the size and about 30 times the weight!

Penguins can have various different markings and flashes and come in many shapes and sizes.

Here is a breakdown of the different types of penguin, some details about their size and a chart for easy penguin size comparison.

List of Penguins and Size Facts

Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri)

The Emperor Penguin is one of only two species of Penguin native to the Antarctic Mainland. They have a big head, a short, thick neck, a streamlined shape, a short, wedge-shaped tail and tiny, flipper-like wings.

Both male and female are alike, with blue-grey upper parts and blackish-blue heads adorned with large white and yellow ear patches.

The Emperor Penguin is the largest and heaviest of the penguins by far. It stands around 115 cm (45 in) tall and weighs 35 – 40 kilograms (77 – 88 pounds). It is the only penguin that breeds during the winter in Antarctica.

Despite their size and weight, Emperor Penguins can hold their breath for around 25 minutes, swim as fast as 15 kph and dive as deep as 900-1500 feet to catch their food!

Emperor Penguins typically live for 20 years, however, some records indicate a maximum life span of around 40 years.

• Size: 115 cm/ 45 in
• Weight: 35-40kg/ 77–88lbs
• IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern

King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus)

The King penguin is the second largest penguin and is sometimes confused with the larger Emperor penguin. Though adult Emperors grow to be much heavier, they both grow to a similar height. They live in the extreme conditions in the sub Antarctic islands at the northern reaches of Antarctica, as well as Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands.

Their environment is remote and interference from humans rare, which likely plays a part in the least concern rating that this species maintains.

King Penguins have a silvery-grey back with a blackish-brown head decorated with striking ear patches of bright golden-orange feathers. They have four layers of feathering, the bottom three are down for insulation and the outer layer is oil and water proof.

Adults reach around 90-95 cm tall and weigh about 13.5-16 kg. Males and females are identical (monomorphic), but can be differentiated by their different calls. Males also tend toward the top end of the size range, but in a group it can be hard to tell the difference.

• Size: 90-95 cm/ 35-37 in
• Weight: 13.5-16kg/ 30-35lbs
• IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern

Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua)

The Gentoo Penguin has a wide white stripe that goes across the tops of their head from one eye to the other, and a very bright orange beak. Chicks have grey backs with white fronts. They are quite widespread around the Falkland Islands, with about 300,000 breeding pairs on the islands.

The Gentoo Penguins are the fastest underwater swimming bird, reaching speeds of 36 kilometres per hour (22.3 miles per hour). That’s more than twice as fast as the Emperor Penguin. They are the largest members of the stiff-tailed family.

Adult Gentoo Penguins reach a height of 75 to 90 cm. Males have a maximum weight of about 8 kg just before molting and a minimum weight of about 5.5 kg just after molting. For females the maximum weight is 7.5 kg and their weight drops to below 5 kg when guarding the chicks in the nest.

These are the most timid species of penguin.

• Size: 75-90 cm/ 29-35 in
• Weight: 5-8kg/ 11-18lbs
• IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened

Royal Penguin  (Eudyptes schlegeli)

Royal penguins look very much like Macaroni Penguins and other crested penguins, but have a white or pale grey face and chin instead of the macaronis’ black visage. They are found in the southern hemisphere near the Macquarie and Campbell Islands to the south of New Zealand.

Populations are estimated to be over 1.7 million, steady but vulnerable. They range from 65 to 75 cm in height, making them the largest of the crested penguins. Males are slightly larger, averaging 73 cm high and weighing 6-8kg. Females average 69 cm and weigh 5-6 kg.

Royal penguins have bring pink feet with some black on the soles and heel, as well as dark brown claws. Their wingspan ranges from 176 mm to 203 mm. Their flippers vary in length with males averaging 189.6 mm and females averaging 185.1 mm.

• Size: 65-75 cm/ 26-30 in
• Weight: 6-8kg/ 13-18lbs
• IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable

Yellow-eyed Penguin aka Hoiho (Megadyptes antipodes)

The Yellow-eyed penguin is a medium-sized penguin with pale yellow eyes. They have a pale yellow head with black feather shafts. There is a band of bright yellow running from its eyes around the back of the head. The juvenile has a greyer head with no band and their eyes have a grey iris.

These penguins can be found around New Zealand, on the south-east coast of South Island, Foveaux Strait and Stewart Island/Rakiura, Auckland and Campbell Islands. It is currently listed as endangered with numbers estimated to be around 4000 birds.

The Yellow-eyed penguin is toward the larger sized end of the species. Adults weigh on average between 5 to 6 kg and will range between 65-75 cm tall. Females tend to be slightly lighter (by about half a kilo) and shorter than males.

• Size: 65-75 cm/ 26-30 in
• Weight: 5-6kg/ Up to 11-13lbs
• IUCN Red List Status: Endangered

Adelie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae)

The Adelie Penguin is the only other species along with the Emperor Penguin that is native to the mainland of Antarctica. They nest and breed on the rocky, ice-free beaches in large colonies of ten thousands of birds.

There are over 2.5 million breeding pairs living in the Antarctica region, which is the only place you can find them in the wild.

Distinctive marks are the white ring surrounding the eye and the feathers at the base of the bill. These long feathers hide most of their red bill. Their tails are a little bit longer than other penguins tails.

Adelie penguins are around 60 to 70 centimetres long and around 4 to 5 kilograms in weight. They are much smaller than the Emperor Penguin, but there are much more numerous.

• Size: 60-70 cm/ 24-28 in
• Weight: 4-5.5kg/ 8.75-12lbs
• IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern

Fiordland Penguin (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus)

The Fiordland Crested Penguin is a medium-sized, yellow-crested, black-and-white penguin. It has dark, bluish-grey upper parts with a darker head, and white under parts. It has a broad, yellow eyebrow-stripe which extends over the eye and drops down the neck. Most birds have 3 – 6 whitish stripes on the face.

These penguins grow to around 60-71 cm/ 24-28 in tall and 2.5-6kg (4.5-13.1lbs) in weight. They are more commonly found at the lower end of this scale, around 60 cm and 8.2lbs is the average. At this size, they are one of the smaller breeds of penguin.

The total population of fiordland penguins has been estimated to be as few as 1,000 – 2,500 breeding pairs, and they are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN red list.

• Size: 60-71 cm/ 24-28 in
• Weight: 2.5-6kg/ 4.5-13.1lbs
• IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable

Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus)

The Magellanic Penguin can be found around coastal Argentina, Chile and the Falkland Islands, with some migrating to southern Brazil. It is the largest of the warm-weather penguins and, despite it’s near-threatened status, the most numerous of the Spheniscus penguins.

This penguin can be distinguished from Humboldt and African penguins by the two bands crossing its front. One band is a wide black strip under the chin and another is in the shape of an upside down horseshoe on the stomach. But like its relatives in the Spheniscus genus, it has black-to-brown shading on its back and white coloring on its breast and trunk.

Adult magellanic penguins stand about 27 inches (70 cm) tall and weigh about 11 lbs (5 kilograms) on average. They can range however, between 24-30 in tall and 8-14 lbs in weight. During the warmer weather of the breeding season magellanic penguins lose the feathers around their eyes. When it starts to get cold again the feathers grow back.

• Size: 61-76 cm/ 24-30 in
• Weight: 4-6.5kg/ 8-14lbs
• IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened

Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus)

The Macaroni Penguin, despite being listed as vulnerable, has a very wide distribution area. It is found around much of the Antarctic islands and peninsula, islands in the Atlantic and Indian oceans as well as the coastal islands of Chile and Argentina.

Macaroni penguins are often confused with royal penguins, due to the long yellow-orange feathers on their crest. Other features include a black head, chin and throat with contrasting white chest and belly. They have a large, bulging bill that is orange-brown in color. Males usually have a larger bill than females, measuring 6.1 cm (2.4 in) compared to 5.4 cm (2.1 in) in females.

An adult macaroni penguin has an average length of around 70 cm (28 in), but their weight can vary depending on the time of the year and their sex. Male macaroni penguins range in weight from 3.3 kg (7 lb) after incubating, or 3.7 kg (8 lb) after moult to 6.4 kg (14 lb) before moult. Females are smaller, ranging from 3.2 kg (7 lb) after moult to 5.7 kg (13 lb) before moult.

• Size: 70 cm/ 28 in
• Weight: 3.2-6.4kg/ 7-14lbs
• IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable

African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus)

The African Penguin is the only penguin species that breeds in Africa and it is found nowhere else.

African penguins have a broad band of black that is in the shape of an upside-down horseshoe on their fronts. They have black spots scattered over their chest and belly area. These spots are unique to each penguin and help us to tell each one of them apart.

African penguins stand about 27 inches (69 centimetres tall) and weigh from 7 to 11 pounds. (2.5 to 4 kilograms). They live and breed on the coast of South Africa and on the off shore islands. At one time the population was estimated to be in the millions. This number has decreased to about 160,000 in 1993, resulting in their endangered status. Today that number has been recorded as low as 50,000.

• Size: 69 cm/ 27 in
• Weight: 2.5-4kg/ 7-11lbs
• IUCN Red List Status: Endangered

Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus humboldti)

The Humboldt Penguin can be found around the coastal regions of Peru and Chile. They are recognisable from blackish-grey upper parts and whitish under parts, with a black breast-band extending down the flanks to the thigh. They have a fleshy-pink base to their beaks. Juveniles have dark heads and no breast-band.

They are a medium sized penguin growing to around 65 – 70 cm tall, and about 4-5kg in weight. These penguins usually live in fresh water, but like other species have a supraorbital gland which enables them to drink salt water.

Humboldt Penguins can swim at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour (32 kilometres per hour), steering with their feet and tail. They have been known to live for 20 years in the wild, but may be able to live as long as 30 in captivity.

The oldest known Humboldt penguin lived until the ripe old age of 36 years old.

• Size: 65-70 cm/ 26-28 in
• Weight: 4-5kg/ 9-11lbs
• IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable

Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus)

The Chinstrap Penguin gets its name from the narrow black band under their heads which makes it appear as if they are wearing black helmets. This makes them one of the most easily identified types of penguin. Other characteristics of this breed are a white front and throat, with red eyes and a black back.

It is estimated there are 12 to 13 million located on the barren islands of the sub-Antarctic Region and the Antarctic Peninsula. Particularly the South Sandwich Islands, South Orkneys, South Shetland, South Georgia, Bouvet Island, Balleny Islands and Peter Island.

The Chinstrap Penguin stand about 28 inches (72 centimetres) tall and weigh about 9 to 14 pounds. (3.5 to 5 kilograms). The weight of the adults vary during the year. Chinstrap Penguins are the heaviest during the molting season and the lightest during the brooding period.

• Size: 68-72 cm/ 27-28 in
• Weight: 3.5-5kg/ 9-14lbs
• IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern

Northern Rockhopper Penguin (Penguin Eudyptes moseleyi)

The Northern Rockhopper Penguin shares some territory with its cousin the Southern Rockhopper, but they are two distinct species. The majority of the population of Northern Rockhoppers are found in the sub Antarctic regions of the Atlantic, particularly around Saint Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha. There is also a small population around the islands of Amsterdam and St. Paul in the Indian Ocean.

While similar in size, the Northern Rockhopper is slightly larger than the other species of rockhopper. There are some other ways to tell the two birds apart. Notably, that the Northern Rockhopper has longer crest feathers. The size and colour of the gape margin is also different as is the size of the stripe in front of the eye. They also use different calls that can be recognised from each other.

According to the Australian Antarctic Program, Northern rockhopper penguins weigh between 3-4.3 kg. They are lighter after moulting, often down to 2.5 kg by the end of breeding season. They are only a little taller than the Southern variety, standing around 57 cm tall.

• Size: 57 cm/ 22 in
• Weight: 3-4.3 kg/ 7-10 lbs
• IUCN Red List Status: Endangered

Southern Rockhopper Penguin (Penguin Eudyptes chrysocome)

Southern Rockhopper Penguins are a sub-Antarctic species that live around Macquarie Island, the Falklands, Campbell Island, Tristan da Cunha and the Antipodes.

They have distinctive crest feathers on their heads, bright orange-red beaks and tiny blood red eyes. Male and female Rockhopper Penguins are very similar in appearance, though males are larger. The Southern Rockhopper is the smallest yellow-crested, black-and-white penguin, reaching a length of 55 centimetres and weighing 5 to 8 pounds.

They can be distinguished from other crested species by their smaller size and the thin, vivid yellow tassels which extend along the sides of the brow but do not meet between the eyes.

• Size: 55 cm/ 21 in
• Weight: 2.2-3.5 kg/ 5-8 lbs
• IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable

Galapagos Penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus)

The Galapagos Penguin is the only penguin to live on the equator in a tropical environment. It lives primarily on Fernandina Island and the west coast of Isabela Island, but small populations are scattered on other islands in the Galapagos archipelago.

No other penguin settles as far north as the Galapagos penguin. Its environment is cooled by several ocean currents that allow for it to survive at these latitudes.

These penguins have a thin white band that runs under their chin and a black upside down horseshoe shape around their belly.  The beak is longer and more slender than the beaks of its other temperate region cousins. Adult penguins have a bluish-black head, back and flippers

The Galápagos Penguin is the smallest of the warm weather penguins. It stands only 16 to 19 inches (40 to 50 centimetres) tall and weighs only 5 pounds (2 to 2.5 kilograms). It is the second smallest penguin in the world.

• Size: 40-50 cm/ 16-19 in
• Weight: 2-2.5kg/ 4.5-5.5lbs
• IUCN Red List Status: Endangered

Little Penguin  aka The Fairy Penguin (Eudyptula minor)

The Little Penguin is the smallest of all the species of penguin. It is sometimes called the Fairy Penguin because of its small size. There are a subspecies of the Little Penguin – The White Flippered Penguin that are distinguished by having a white stripe around the edges of their flippers.

These penguins live around the coastline of New Zealand and the Chatham Islands as well as southern Australia and Tasmania. Numbers are stable and they are a species listed as least concern.

The Little Penguin really does contrast very widely to the Emperor at the other end of the scale. Standing only 16 to 17 inches tall (35-40 cm) and weighing only about 2.25 pounds (1 kg). Little penguins are also called ‘Little Blues’ because of the indigo-blue and slate-grey color of their feathers.

• Size: 35-40 cm/ 14-16 in
• Weight: 1kg/ 2.25lbs
• IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern

Snares Penguin (Eudyptes robustus)

The Snares Penguin is another species native to New Zealand. Specifically to the Snares, a group of islands off the southern coast of the South Island of New Zealand. While the species is listed as vulnerable, the Snares Islands are a marine sanctuary with restricted access to humans. Currently there are about 30,000 breeding pairs on the islands.

These are medium sized yellow-crested penguins, with dark blue-black upper parts and white under parts. Snares Penguins have a bright yellow eyebrow-stripe which extends over the eye to form a drooping, bushy crest. They have bare pink skin at the base of its large red-brown beak.

These birds are known to grow to an average height of 50-60 cm, and to weigh between 2.5 and 4 kg in adulthood. Males are slightly larger than females, and there have been rare examples growing to around 70 cm and 9.5lbs, but this is exceptional.

• Size: 50-60 cm/ 20-24 in
• Weight: 2.5-4kg/ 6-9lbs
• IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable

Erect-crested Penguin (Eudyptes sclateri)

Erect-crested penguins are small to medium in size, however they are the heaviest of the crested penguin species and are the fourth heaviest extant penguin.

The erect-crested penguin has black upper parts and white under parts, with a yellow eye stripe that extends over the eye to form a short, erect crest, also known as their yellow eyebrow. The backs of their flippers are colored black, whereas the undersides are colored white with black tips. Their eyes are red-brown in color and their bill is large and orangey-brown.

While some members of the erect-crested penguin species are found along the coasts of Australia, New Zealand, and nearby islands in the Southern Ocean (such as the Auckland Islands, Campbell Island, and Macquarie Island), breeding populations are limited to the Bounty and Antipodes Islands near New Zealand.

• Size: 50–70 cm/ 20–28 in
• Weight: 2.5–6 kg (5.5–13.2 lb)
• IUCN Red List Status: Endangered

Penguin Size Comparison Chart

FAQs

What Was The Largest Penguin Ever?

The Colossus Penguin is the largest penguin ever to have roamed the Earth. It grew to around 7 feet tall and weighed over 250 lbs. This species lived around 37 million years ago!

What Is The Largest Species Of Penguin?

The largest extant species of penguin is the Emperor Penguin. It can weigh up to 88 pounds and grow up to 45 inches (115 cm) tall.

What Is The Smallest Species Of Penguin?

The smallest penguin is the Little Penguin, also known as the Fairy Penguin. It can weigh up to 2.25 lbs and grow up to 16 inches tall.

How Much Do Baby Penguins Weigh?

Baby penguins differ in size according to their breed. Baby Little Penguins for example, can weigh as little as 35g, while baby Emperor Penguins can weigh up to 400g.