Crested penguin

A penguin in the genus Eudyptes, distinguished by yellow or orange crest feathers above its eyes. The genus includes several species found mainly on islands in the Southern Ocean and nearby waters.

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Eudyptes: A genus of crested penguins native mainly to subantarctic and temperate islands. This genus contains the penguins defined by the crest that gives this group its name.
Penguin plumage: The dense, overlapping feathers that insulate penguins and streamline their bodies in water. Crest feathers are a conspicuous variation on the plumage that also supports insulation and swimming.
Penguin census: A survey estimating penguin abundance or breeding pairs through counts of birds, nests, or occupied sites. Counts at breeding colonies track population changes in species with distinct island ranges.
Climate change and penguins: The effects of climate-driven ocean and habitat changes on penguin populations and their food webs. Warming seas can shift prey distributions and alter conditions around subantarctic colonies.
Macaroni penguin: A large crested penguin with long yellow-orange plumes and a broad range across subantarctic islands. Its elaborate crest is the most conspicuous example of the group’s defining feature.
Countershading: A color pattern with a dark upper surface and pale underside that reduces visibility in changing light. The dark back and pale underside help camouflage these penguins while they swim.
Seabird monitoring: The repeated collection of data on seabird populations, breeding success, and habitat conditions. Long-term monitoring helps separate natural fluctuations from persistent declines in crested penguins.
Ocean acidification: The decrease in seawater pH caused mainly by ocean uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide. It can affect marine food webs that sustain penguin prey.
Royal penguin: A white-faced crested penguin that breeds on Macquarie Island and nearby islets. Its pale face distinguishes it from the closely related macaroni penguin.
Penguin diving: Underwater swimming by penguins to pursue prey, using flipper-like wings for propulsion. Crested penguins forage by diving for fish, krill, and other marine prey.