Penguin of the Day - Chinstrap

Penguin of the Day - Chinstrap - Images by Jonathan Chester

The Chinstrap Penguin, Pygoselis antarctica, is the second of the brush-tailed genera ranging from 71 to 76 centimetres (28 to 30 inches) in length and weigh some 3.9 - 4.4 kilograms (8 1/2 to 91/2 pounds). Though similar in appearance to the Adélie Penguin they are slightly smaller and more aggressive.

They are named for the distinctive narrow band of black tipped feathers that extends from ear to ear under their chin, like the strap of a guardsman's helmet. Their diet is similar to that of the Adélie Penguin, and on the Antarctic Peninsula, they can often be found breeding side by side.

Chinstraps hatch later than the Adelie and Gentoos, but their growth rate is faster. The chicks do not form creches, likes other species, but stay by their nests. They are found mostly in the subantarctic, but there are also large colonies on the Antarctic Peninsula.

Chinstraps may be the most numerous penguin, with a population estimated at 12 to 13 million. They often select lofty sites that are the first to become snow free to ensure the maximum amount of time to raise their chicks.

(from The Nature of Penguins. Jonathan Chester)