What is an Adelie penguin?
The Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) is a medium-sized penguin standing 46 to 71 cm tall, found along the entire Antarctic coastline. They are one of only two penguin species that breed on the Antarctic continent itself (the other being the emperor penguin). Adelie penguins are easily recognized by their completely black head and the distinctive white ring around each eye. They build nests out of small stones and are famously feisty — known to steal pebbles from neighboring nests and aggressively defend their territory.
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Where this answer comes from
Reference bodies behind our species answers. Links last checked August 5, 2026.
- IUCN Red List - Global conservation assessments and extinction-risk categories.
- BirdLife Data Zone - Species accounts, distribution, and population summaries.
- Smithsonian Ocean Portal - Penguin biology, anatomy, and breeding explainers.
- Australian Museum - Little penguin biology and coastal breeding behavior.