Wildlife
Adelie penguins are found in the Southern Ocean round Antarctica. They breed further south than any other penguin, venturing about 100 km (60 miles) from the sea to their nest sites on the Antarctic mainland. The males and females take turns to incubate the egg and feed the chick while their partner is out at sea.
Scientific name: Pygoscelis adeliae
Rank: Species
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Too hot to handle
While Adelie penguins are in decline, gentoo penguins are moving in.
While Adelie penguins are in decline, gentoo penguins are moving in.
Taking the plunge
It seems penguins are not born with a love of water.
It seems penguins are not born with a love of water.
Timelapse penguins
To raise their chicks before winter the Adelie penguins must work round the clock.
To raise their chicks before winter the Adelie penguins must work round the clock.
Race for life
Most pairs of Adelie penguins will only manage to raise a single chick each season.
Most pairs of Adelie penguins will only manage to raise a single chick each season.
Feeding time for Adelie chicks
With stomachs full of krill the adults return to feed the penguin chicks.
With stomachs full of krill the adults return to feed the penguin chicks.
The Adelie penguin can be found in a number of locations including: Antarctica. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
The following habitats are found across the Adelie penguin distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
Least Concern
Year assessed: 2009
Classified by: IUCN 3.1
The Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) is a species of penguin common along the entire Antarctic coast. They are among the most southerly distributed of all seabirds, as are the Emperor Penguin, the South Polar Skua, the Wilson's Storm Petrel, the Snow Petrel, and the Antarctic Petrel. In 1840, French explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville named them for his wife, Adèle.
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Adapted to swimming
Carnivorous
Colonial
Monogamous
Egg layer
Cold tolerant